Fossum
A Norwegian surname referring to a waterfall or stream.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,159 Americans carry the last name Fossum. That puts it at #15,743 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 158,756 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fossum surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 158,756
Census rank
#15,743
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,852 bearers of the surname Fossum in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15743rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fossum, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fossum
The surname Fossum is of Norwegian origin, with its earliest known roots tracing back to the 17th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "foss," which translates to "waterfall," combined with the suffix "-um," indicating a place or location.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fossum can be found in the parish records of Ringerike, Norway, where a family with this surname resided in the late 1600s. The name was likely associated with a particular farm or settlement situated near a waterfall or a river with a strong current.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Fossum name appeared in various historical documents and records across Norway, particularly in the regions of Oppland, Buskerud, and Telemark. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include Hans Olsen Fossum (1733-1804), a farmer and landowner in Vestre Toten, and Guri Fossum (1788-1865), a well-known folk artist from Ringerike.
As Norwegian immigration to North America increased in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Fossum surname was carried across the Atlantic by numerous families seeking new opportunities. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the United States can be found in the 1880 census, where a family with the surname Fossum was recorded as residing in Minnesota.
Another notable individual with the Fossum surname was Johan Fossum (1868-1936), a Norwegian-American architect who designed several prominent buildings in Minneapolis, including the Leamington Hotel and the Masonic Temple.
In more recent times, the name Fossum has been associated with several accomplished individuals, such as Erik Fossum (born 1957), a Norwegian engineer and inventor of the CMOS active pixel sensor technology used in modern digital cameras, and Knut Fossum (1927-2021), a Norwegian theologian and author.
While the Fossum surname may not be as widely recognized as some other Norwegian names, it holds a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fossum
Among Census respondents with the surname Fossum, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Fossum bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Fossum surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1%
- Two or more races1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- Black or African American0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Fossum surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,771 | #15,743 | -6.6% |
| Count | 1,844 | 1,852 | 0.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.68 | 0.63 | -7.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Fossum bearers went from 1,844 to 1,852 (+0.4% change). The surname moved down 972 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,771 to #15,743.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Fossum
FAQ
Fossum surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Fossum?
The surname Fossum holds position #15,743 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,159 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.63 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Fossum surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fossum, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.