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

Folsom, 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 Folsom surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Folsom in America

Folsom is the 4667th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Folsom surname appeared 7,598 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Folsom.

We can also compare 2010 data for Folsom 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 Folsom

The surname Folsom originated in England and is believed to have derived from the Old English words "fol" meaning foolish or wicked, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. It is thought to have initially referred to a homestead or settlement where fools or criminals lived.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Folsom can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation in England compiled in 1086 under the direction of William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Folsham" in reference to a village in Norfolk.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Folsham," "Folsam," and "Folsum." During this time, it was commonly associated with places in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex counties in eastern England.

One notable individual with the surname Folsom was John Folsom, a merchant and politician who lived from 1630 to 1690. He served as a member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony's Council of Assistants and was a prominent figure in the early colonial history of New England.

Another historical figure was Peter Folsom, born in 1617 in Norwich, England. He immigrated to America in the 1630s and became one of the first settlers of what is now Exeter, New Hampshire. His descendants went on to play significant roles in the development of various towns and communities throughout New England.

In the 18th century, Samuel Folsom (1717-1790) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Exeter, New Hampshire. He served as a colonel in the American Revolutionary War and was a close associate of George Washington.

During the same period, Nathaniel Folsom (1726-1790) was a brigadier general in the Continental Army and served under George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. He played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Saratoga.

In the 19th century, Charles Folsom (1842-1907) was a prominent American businessman and inventor. He is credited with several innovations in the field of paper manufacturing and was involved in the establishment of several successful companies.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the surname Folsom throughout history. The name has been carried by many others who have contributed to various fields, including politics, business, and military service, across multiple countries and generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Folsom

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

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

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

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