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

Kelm, 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 Kelm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kelm in America

Kelm is the 14768th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kelm surname appeared 2,011 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kelm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kelm 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 Kelm

The surname Kelm is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the 14th century in the region of Prussia. It is believed to have derived from the Old Prussian word "kelme," which translates to "grove" or "thicket," suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near or worked in a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Kelm surname can be found in the Prussian Chronicles, a historical text dating back to the late 15th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Kelme," "Kelmme," and "Kelmb," reflecting the linguistic evolution of the time.

In the 16th century, the Kelm name gained prominence in the region of East Prussia, now part of modern-day Poland and Russia. Historical records from this period mention several individuals bearing the Kelm surname, including Hans Kelm (1520-1589), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad).

As the Kelm family spread across northern Germany and neighboring regions, the name took on variations in spelling, such as "Kelm," "Kelmb," and "Kelmer." In the 18th century, a notable figure named Johann Kelm (1741-1817) was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from the town of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland).

Another historical figure associated with the Kelm surname is Friedrich Kelm (1816-1891), a German theologian and author who wrote extensively on biblical exegesis and religious philosophy. His works were widely read and influential in academic circles of the time.

In the 19th century, the Kelm name also gained recognition in the field of agriculture and land management. Karl Kelm (1835-1901) was a pioneering agronomist and author who published several influential texts on farming techniques and sustainable land use practices.

Throughout its history, the Kelm surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, scholars, entrepreneurs, and landowners. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, referring to those who lived or worked in wooded areas, it has since been associated with notable figures who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kelm

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

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

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

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