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

Fullmer, 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 Fullmer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fullmer in America

Fullmer is the 7268th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fullmer surname appeared 4,585 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 Fullmer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fullmer 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 Fullmer

The surname Fullmer is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fulleman," which referred to a fuller, a person who worked in the textile industry, fulling or cleaning and thickening woven cloth. The name was likely an occupational surname, given to individuals or families whose primary trade was fulling cloth.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Fullmer can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a William le Fullere residing in Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation, "le Fullere," further reinforces the connection to the occupation of fulling cloth.

During the late medieval and early modern periods, the name Fullmer began to spread across various regions of England. Records from the 16th and 17th centuries show Fullmers residing in counties such as Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. Place names like Fullmer's Pond in Wiltshire and Fullmer's Brook in Somerset suggest that the name had established itself as a local surname in these areas.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Fullmer was John Fullmer, born in 1620 in Wiltshire. He was a prosperous landowner and played a significant role in the local community during the turbulent times of the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the Fullmer family gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of Samuel Fullmer (1711-1784), a renowned poet and playwright. His works, which included satirical plays and social commentaries, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Fullmer (1788-1862), a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in London. Her efforts to promote education for women were groundbreaking for the era and paved the way for future generations of female scholars.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Fullmer (1823-1897), a prominent industrialist who played a crucial role in the development of the textile industry in the North of England. His innovative techniques and business acumen contributed significantly to the region's economic growth during the Industrial Revolution.

While the surname Fullmer is not among the most common in modern times, it has left an indelible mark on history, with its origins deeply rooted in the medieval English textile trade and its bearers contributing to various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fullmer

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

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

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

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