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

Ketchum, 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 Ketchum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ketchum in America

Ketchum is the 4213th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ketchum surname appeared 8,407 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Ketchum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ketchum 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 Ketchum

The surname Ketchum has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "cæcc" meaning a catch or enclosure, and "ham" meaning a village or homestead. It likely originated as a place name referring to a village or settlement near an enclosure or pen used for livestock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1176, which mention a William de Cacheham. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, also contains references to several places with similar names, such as Cacheham and Cacham.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved to its more modern spelling of Ketchum. In 1273, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire recorded a Roger de Kecham. Around the same time, the Testa de Nevill, an important legal record from 1219-1258, mentioned a John de Kecham.

Notable individuals with the surname Ketchum include William Ketchum (1550-1618), an English clergyman and author who wrote on theology and church history. John Ketchum (1782-1865) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Another prominent figure was Silas Ketchum (1835-1899), an American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the lumber and mining industries. He was instrumental in the development of the city of San Diego, California, and donated land for the establishment of Ketchum Prairie, a residential neighborhood in the city.

In the literary world, Annie Trumbull Slosson (1838-1926), an American author and poet, was born Annie Trumbull Ketchum. She wrote several acclaimed works, including the novel "The Heresy of Mehetabel Clark" and the poetry collection "Dumb Foxglove and Other Stories."

Emily Ketcham (1838-1909) was a notable American educator and writer. She authored several textbooks on English grammar and composition, which were widely used in schools across the United States in the late 19th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Ketchum has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, as well as in the United States, where it was carried by English immigrants. While its origins can be traced back to a specific location in England, the name has since spread and evolved, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who bear it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ketchum

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

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

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

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