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

Holm, 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 Holm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Holm in America

Holm is the 2701st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Holm surname appeared 13,341 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Holm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Holm 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 Holm

The surname HOLM originates from the Scandinavian countries, particularly Denmark and Sweden, dating back to the Viking era. It is derived from the Old Norse word "holmr," meaning a small island or a river holme (a dry, elevated area of land surrounded by water). The name was likely adopted by individuals who lived on or near such islands or holms.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HOLM surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholders and their properties in England, compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry "Holme" is listed, referring to a place name rather than a surname, but it suggests the presence of the name in England during the Norman era.

In the 13th century, records show the name HOLM appearing in various forms, such as "Holme," "Holms," and "de Holm," indicating its use as a surname. One notable example is Richardus de Holm, a cleric and diplomat from Yorkshire, England, who lived in the late 13th century.

The HOLM surname has also been associated with notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Børge Rosenborg Holm (1776-1845), a Danish naval officer and cartographer who played a crucial role in mapping the coasts of Greenland and Iceland.

Another prominent bearer of the HOLM name was Hjalmar Holm (1837-1897), a Swedish explorer and ethnographer who conducted expeditions to North America and studied the indigenous cultures of the American Southwest.

In the literary world, Tove Jansson (1914-2001), the Finnish author and illustrator best known for creating the Moomin series, was born Tove Marika Holm.

Edvard Holm (1833-1915) was a Norwegian historian and writer who authored several works on the history of Denmark and Norway, including the multivolume "Denmark-Norway's History from the Accession of Christian III to the Restoration 1534-1660."

The HOLM surname has also been associated with notable figures in sports. One example is Gunnel Holm (1942-1992), a Swedish long-distance runner who won a gold medal in the 3,000 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

While the HOLM surname originated in Scandinavia, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its roots can be traced back to the Viking era and the Old Norse word "holmr," reflecting a connection to islands, holms, and the natural landscapes of Scandinavia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Holm

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

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

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

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