Find out how popular the last name Elem is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Elem.

Elem, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Elem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elem in America

Elem is the 41426th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elem surname appeared 525 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Elem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elem to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Elem

The surname ELEM is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom, likely in England or Wales, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "elm," which referred to the elm tree. This suggests that the name may have initially been a locational surname, given to someone who lived near a prominent elm tree or in an area where elm trees were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ELEM can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landholdings and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Ailric Elem, indicating that the surname was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the name appeared in historical records, including Elem, Eleme, and Eelem. These variations likely reflect regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions at the time. One notable individual from this period was Sir John Elem, a knight who fought in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346.

In the 16th century, the surname ELEM was associated with several notable figures. One of them was Thomas Elem (c. 1500-1572), a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in London. Another was Elizabeth Elem (c. 1520-1598), who was known for her charitable contributions and support for the poor in the city of Bristol.

The 17th century saw the rise of William Elem (1629-1702), a renowned scholar and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy. He was also a prominent figure in the Church of England and served as a rector in various parishes throughout his life.

In the 18th century, the name ELEM was closely associated with the town of Elmton in Derbyshire, England. This place name, which likely derived from the same Old English root as the surname, may have contributed to the continued use and recognition of the ELEM surname in that region.

Throughout history, several other notable individuals have borne the surname ELEM, including the explorer and cartographer John Elem (1712-1789), who was instrumental in mapping the Pacific Northwest region of North America, and the writer and poet Emily Elem (1832-1897), whose works were widely acclaimed during the Victorian era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elem

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Elem.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Elem was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Elem has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Elem was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elem, please contact us.

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