Holmstrom
A Swedish toponymic surname derived from the words "holm," meaning islet, and "ström," meaning stream or river.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,536 Americans carry the last name Holmstrom. That puts it at #13,810 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.74 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 135,155 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Holmstrom 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
2.5K
1 in 135,155
Census rank
#13,810
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,189 bearers of the surname Holmstrom in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.74 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13810th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Holmstrom, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Holmstrom
The surname Holmstrom originated in Sweden during the late 16th century. It is a toponymic name derived from the Swedish words "holme" meaning a small island or a piece of land surrounded by streams, and "strom" meaning a stream or a current of water. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a small island in a stream or river.
Holmstrom is a variation of the older Swedish surname Holmström, which can be traced back to the late 1500s. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name appear in parish records from the Värmland region of western Sweden.
In the 17th century, the name Holmstrom began appearing in historical records and documents from other parts of Sweden, such as Stockholm and the surrounding areas. It was during this time that the surname became more widely established among the Swedish population.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Holmstrom was Anders Holmstrom, a farmer who lived in the village of Gräsmark, Värmland, in the late 16th century. Another early bearer of the name was Nils Holmstrom, a soldier who served in the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).
In the 18th century, the Holmstrom surname was found in various regions of Sweden, including Västergötland, Östergötland, and Småland. One notable individual from this period was Carl Holmstrom (1720-1795), a merchant and ship owner from Gothenburg.
During the 19th century, several individuals with the Holmstrom surname made significant contributions to various fields. One such person was Johan Erik Holmstrom (1807-1881), a Swedish botanist and explorer who conducted extensive research on the flora of Scandinavia and Russia. Another was Carl Gustaf Holmstrom (1830-1893), a Swedish politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister of Sweden in the late 19th century.
In the 20th century, the Holmstrom surname continued to be prevalent in Sweden and other parts of Scandinavia. One notable bearer of the name was Ingrid Holmstrom (1904-1983), a Swedish actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and theater productions throughout her career.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Holmstrom
Among Census respondents with the surname Holmstrom, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Holmstrom 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 Holmstrom surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- Black or African American0.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Holmstrom 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 | #13,451 | #13,810 | -2.7% |
| Count | 2,076 | 2,189 | 5.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.77 | 0.74 | -3.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Holmstrom bearers went from 2,076 to 2,189 (+5.4% change). The surname moved down 359 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,451 to #13,810.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Holmstrom
FAQ
Holmstrom surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Holmstrom?
The surname Holmstrom holds position #13,810 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,536 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.74 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Holmstrom surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Holmstrom, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (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.