2000
#38,395
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 542
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.20
Rare Last name
Elmi
Meaning "of elm tree" or "from the elm woods."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,119 Americans carry the last name Elmi. That puts it at #15,291 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 161,753 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Elmi surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Elmi with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 161,753
Census rank
#15,291
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,848 bearers of the surname Elmi in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15291st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Elmi, the largest self-reported group is Black at 84.6%. The next largest groups are White (10.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Elmi
The surname ELMI is believed to have originated in Italy, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Italian word "elmo," meaning "helmet," suggesting a possible connection to a military or knightly lineage.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name ELMI can be found in a document from the city of Genoa, dated 1187, which refers to a nobleman named Guglielmo ELMI. This individual is believed to have been a member of the Genoese aristocracy, potentially serving in a military capacity.
In the 13th century, the name ELMI appeared in several records from the city of Florence, where it was associated with a prominent family involved in the textile trade. One notable figure from this period was Bartolomeo ELMI, a wealthy merchant born in 1247, who played a significant role in the city's economic and political affairs.
During the Renaissance, the ELMI name gained further prominence with the birth of the renowned artist and architect, Girolamo ELMI (1472-1543). Hailing from the city of Siena, Girolamo ELMI was celebrated for his contributions to the construction of several churches and palaces, including the iconic Palazzo Piccolomini.
In the 17th century, a branch of the ELMI family settled in the Venetian Republic, where they established themselves as successful traders and merchants. One notable figure from this era was Marco ELMI (1612-1679), a wealthy merchant who established trade routes between Venice and the Ottoman Empire.
Another prominent individual bearing the ELMI surname was the Italian philosopher and theologian, Vincenzo ELMI (1745-1818). Born in Naples, Vincenzo ELMI was a respected scholar who authored several works on ethics and metaphysics, and played a significant role in the intellectual discourse of his time.
While the surname ELMI can be found in various regions of Italy, it has also spread to other parts of Europe and the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its roots and earliest recorded history can be traced back to the Italian peninsula, where it has held a significant presence for centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Elmi
Among Census respondents with the surname Elmi, the largest self-reported group is Black at 84.6%. The next largest groups are White (10.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Elmi bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Elmi surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American84.6% · 1,564
- White10.4% · 193
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.1% · 39
- Two or more races1.6% · 29
- Hispanic or Latino1.2% · 22
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Elmi
Elmi appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#20,565
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,289
+747 bearers (+137.8%)
Per 100,000 0.44
Rank movement Up 17,830 places
2020
#15,291
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,848
+559 bearers (+43.4%)
Per 100,000 0.62
Rank movement Up 5,274 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #38,395 | 542 | 0.20 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #20,565 | 1,289 | 0.44 | +747 bearers (+137.8%) | Up 17,830 places |
| 2020 | #15,291 | 1,848 | 0.62 | +559 bearers (+43.4%) | Up 5,274 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Elmi surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,565 | #15,291 | 25.6% |
| Count | 1,289 | 1,848 | 43.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.44 | 0.62 | 40.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Elmi bearers went from 1,289 to 1,848 (+43.4% change). The surname moved up 5,274 positions in the national ranking, going from #20,565 to #15,291.
FAQ
Elmi surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Elmi?
Name Census estimates that about 2,119 living Americans carry the surname Elmi. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 161,753 residents.
How common is Elmi?
Elmi ranks #15,291 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,848 people with the surname Elmi. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,119), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.62 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.62 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Elmi.
Has Elmi become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Elmi went from 1,289 recorded bearers to 1,848. That is an increase of 559 (+43.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #20,565 to #15,291.
What does the Census say about the background of Elmi?
Among Census respondents with the surname Elmi, the largest self-reported group is Black at 84.6%. The next largest groups are White (10.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Elmi in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.6% (1,564 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Elmi appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (84.6%), White (10.4%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Elmi (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Elmi mean?
Meaning "of elm tree" or "from the elm woods." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Elmi (0.62 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Elmi?
Find out how many people have the last name Elmi on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.