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

Esham, 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 Esham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Esham in America

Esham is the 49365th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Esham surname appeared 426 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 Esham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Esham 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 Esham

The surname Esham has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "esche" and "ham," which together meant "homestead by the ash trees." This indicates that the earliest bearers of this name likely lived near or in a hamlet surrounded by ash trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Esham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name had already established itself in certain parts of the country by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the surname Esham appeared in various historical records, often with variations in spelling such as Essham, Esseham, and Essheham. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

In the 14th century, the Esham surname gained prominence when John Esham, born in 1325, became a respected scholar and theologian at the University of Oxford. His contributions to the field of theology earned him recognition among his contemporaries.

Another notable figure bearing this surname was Sir William Esham, a wealthy landowner and knight who lived in the late 15th century. Records indicate that he owned vast estates in the county of Gloucestershire and played a significant role in local governance.

The 16th century saw the birth of Richard Esham, a renowned playwright and poet who was part of the literary circle surrounding William Shakespeare. His works, though lesser known today, were highly acclaimed during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, the Esham family established themselves in the county of Wiltshire, where they owned several manors and estates. One notable member of this branch was Elizabeth Esham, born in 1648, who was known for her philanthropic efforts and contributions to the local community.

Throughout the centuries, the Esham surname has been associated with various place names, such as Esham Manor in Gloucestershire and Esham Village in Wiltshire, further solidifying the name's ties to specific geographical locations in England.

While the surname Esham may not be as prevalent today as it once was, its rich history and origins trace back to the medieval period, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences that shaped English surnames over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Esham

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

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

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

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