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

Finchum, 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 Finchum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Finchum in America

Finchum is the 26932nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Finchum surname appeared 901 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 Finchum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Finchum 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 Finchum

The surname Finchum is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "finc," meaning a small bird, and "ham," which refers to a homestead or village. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived near a place where finches were found in abundance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Finchum can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population records in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Fincham, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname.

During the 13th century, records show that the Fincham family held lands in Norfolk, particularly in the village of Fincham, which likely contributed to the establishment of the surname. This place name is thought to have derived from the Old English words "finc" and "ham," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its avian origins.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Finchum include Sir William Fincham (1460-1535), a prominent English landowner and member of the gentry in Norfolk. Another notable figure was John Finchum (1570-1632), a scholar and clergyman who served as the Rector of Stoke Newington in London.

In the 17th century, the surname appears to have spread beyond its East Anglian roots, with records indicating Finchum families residing in various parts of England. One such example is Thomas Finchum (1625-1698), a merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire.

As the surname evolved over time, various spelling variations emerged, including Fyncham, Fincham, and Finchum. This diversity in spelling reflects the flexibility of English orthography during the medieval and early modern periods.

Other notable individuals with the surname Finchum include William Finchum (1745-1823), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War, and Elizabeth Finchum (1820-1898), a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in the United States.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Finchum

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

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

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

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