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

Kissam, 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 Kissam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kissam in America

Kissam is the 54637th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kissam surname appeared 377 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kissam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kissam 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 Kissam

The surname Kissam originated in England, where it is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cysse" meaning "to kiss" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a settlement known for its hospitality or warm welcomes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kissam can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kissham." This entry provides evidence that the name was present in England during the Norman Conquest, suggesting its roots may date back even further.

In the 13th century, various spellings of the name emerged, including "Kyssham," "Kyssam," and "Kyssame." These variations reflect the evolving nature of language and spelling conventions during that period.

Notable historical figures bearing the Kissam surname include Sir John Kissam (1585-1660), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another early record is of Thomas Kissam (1612-1686), who emigrated from England to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century and became a respected figure in the colonial community.

In the 18th century, Benjamin Kissam (1728-1798) was a successful merchant and landowner in New York City, known for his involvement in the American Revolutionary War. His son, Benjamin Pryor Kissam (1760-1844), followed in his footsteps as a prominent businessman and philanthropist.

During the 19th century, Walter Kissam (1803-1879) made a name for himself as a renowned architect, responsible for designing several iconic buildings in New York City, including the Old Merchant's Exchange and the New York Produce Exchange.

Another notable figure from this era was Mary Kissam Putnam (1810-1877), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded the Putnam Female Seminary in New York, one of the first institutions dedicated to providing higher education for women.

Throughout its history, the Kissam surname has been associated with various place names, such as Kissam Hill in Huntington, New York, and Kissam Lake in Dutchess County, New York, reflecting the influence and presence of families bearing this name in different regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kissam

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

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

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

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