Erdem last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Erdem

An occupational surname meaning "earth cultivator" or "farmer" in Turkish.

Erdem, 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 Erdem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Erdem in America

Erdem is the 82613th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Erdem surname appeared 228 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 Erdem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Erdem 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 82613 116835 -34.32%
Count 228 138 49.18%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.05 46.15%

The history of the last name Erdem

The surname ERDEM originated in Turkey, and its earliest known origins can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Turkish word "erdem," which means virtue, moral excellence, or nobility. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Anatolia and Central Asia, where it was often associated with individuals of high moral standing and respected members of society.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname ERDEM can be found in the Divan-i Lugatit Turk, a renowned Turkish dictionary compiled by the scholar Mahmud al-Kashgari in the 11th century. This work includes references to individuals bearing the name ERDEM, indicating its widespread use during that period.

In the 13th century, the name ERDEM gained further prominence when it appeared in various manuscripts and historical records related to the Ottoman Empire. One notable figure was Erdem Bey, a military commander who served under Sultan Mehmed II during the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

During the 15th century, the name ERDEM was also associated with various prominent scholars and intellectuals. One such individual was Erdem Chelebi, a renowned Ottoman poet and calligrapher who lived from 1425 to 1495. His works contributed significantly to the development of Turkish literature and calligraphic arts.

In the 16th century, the name ERDEM continued to be prominent within the Ottoman aristocracy and scholarly circles. Erdem Pasha, a grand vizier who served under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent from 1539 to 1545, was a influential figure in the administration of the Ottoman Empire during that era.

Another notable bearer of the surname ERDEM was Erdem Bey, a military commander and statesman who lived in the 17th century. He played a crucial role in the defense of the Ottoman Empire against foreign invaders and is remembered for his strategic military victories.

As the centuries progressed, the surname ERDEM continued to be associated with individuals of distinction in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. While many bearers of this name have left their mark on history, it is important to note that the surname ERDEM has maintained its symbolic association with virtue, moral excellence, and nobility throughout its long and distinguished history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Erdem

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

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 Erdem was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 89.91% 205
Non-Hispanic Black Only 3.95% 9
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 4.82% 11
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Erdem has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 89.91% 85.51% 5.02%
Black 3.95% 0.00% 200.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 4.82% 12.32% -87.51%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Erdem last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 1, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/erdem-surname-popularity/.

"Erdem last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/erdem-surname-popularity/. Accessed 1 May, 2025

Erdem last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/erdem-surname-popularity/.

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