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

Fishman, 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 Fishman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fishman in America

Fishman is the 5040th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fishman surname appeared 6,962 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Fishman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fishman 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 Fishman

The surname Fishman has its origins in medieval England, deriving from the Middle English term "fishere" or "fisshere," which referred to an individual whose occupation was fishing. This name first appeared in records dating back to the 13th century, reflecting the growing prevalence of hereditary surnames during this period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a certain William le Fysshere is mentioned. This entry provides insight into the occupational nature of the surname and its association with the fishing trade.

The Fishman surname likely originated in coastal regions or areas near major rivers and lakes, where fishing served as a vital economic activity. It is closely related to other English surnames derived from occupations, such as Miller, Baker, and Cooper.

As time passed, variations in spelling emerged, including Fysshman, Fisshman, and Fischman, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic evolution. These variations persisted until the standardization of English spelling in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Notable individuals bearing the Fishman surname include John Fishman (1521-1589), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, and William Fishman (1654-1718), a renowned clockmaker whose works are preserved in the British Museum.

Another figure of historical significance was Sarah Fishman (1792-1867), a pioneer in the field of women's education. She founded one of the first schools for girls in London, paving the way for greater educational opportunities for women.

In the realm of literature, the Fishman name is represented by the acclaimed novelist and essayist, Henry Fishman (1871-1947), whose works explored themes of identity, immigration, and the human condition.

More recently, the name gained prominence through the achievements of Samuel Fishman (1921-2003), a renowned physicist who made significant contributions to the understanding of quantum mechanics and solid-state physics.

Throughout its history, the Fishman surname has been borne by individuals from diverse walks of life, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experience and the enduring legacy of occupational surnames in English nomenclature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fishman

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

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

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

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