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

Elmes, 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 Elmes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elmes in America

Elmes is the 50851st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elmes surname appeared 410 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 Elmes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elmes 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 Elmes

The surname ELMES has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be a locational surname derived from one of several places named "Elm" or "Elms" in various counties across the country, such as Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Worcestershire. The name is thought to come from the Old English word "elm," referring to the elm tree, suggesting that the original bearers of the surname may have lived near a prominent elm tree or a location known for its elm trees.

Early records of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "de Elm." The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a John de Elmes in Oxfordshire. It is likely that the surname evolved from the locational prefix "de" meaning "of" or "from" to the modern form of "Elmes" over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Elmes, a Member of Parliament for Maldon in Essex, who was recorded in the official parliamentary records in 1393. Another notable figure was William Elmes, a prominent London merchant and alderman who lived in the 15th century and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1486.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various historical records, including the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a baptism of John Elmes is recorded in 1568. The Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674 also list several Elmes households in various counties, indicating the surname's continued presence across England.

Other notable individuals with the surname ELMES include:

1. Sir Harvey Elmes (1579-1636), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I.
2. Richard Elmes (1683-1753), an English architect and surveyor best known for his work on the Mansion House in London.
3. James Elmes (1782-1862), an English architectural writer and editor of the quarterly journal "Annals of Fine Arts."
4. William Elmes (1823-1900), an English-born Australian politician and journalist who served in the Legislative Council of Victoria.
5. Henry Elmes (1844-1920), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Grosvenor Hotel and the Piccadilly Hotel.

While the surname ELMES has evolved over centuries, its origins can be traced back to the locational names derived from the Old English word for the elm tree, reflecting the historical ties of the name's bearers to specific areas and landmarks across England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elmes

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

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 Elmes 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 Elmes 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 Elmes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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