Latham
From an English place name meaning "barn" or "granary" in Old English.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 24,713 Americans carry the last name Latham. That puts it at #1,693 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 13,869 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Latham 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
25K
1 in 13,869
Census rank
#1,693
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
21K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 21,277 bearers of the surname Latham in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1693rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Latham, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.0%. The next largest groups are Black (16.1%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Latham
The surname Latham originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "læcc" meaning a stream or brook, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or in a village situated near a stream.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Lateham" in reference to a landowner in Lancashire. The name was also recorded in various other medieval documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1176, where it was spelled "Latham."
The name Latham is closely associated with the town of Lathom in Lancashire, which was once the site of a significant manor house and estate owned by the Lathom family. The spelling of the place name evolved over time, with variations including Lathum, Lathom, and eventually Latham.
Notable historical figures with the surname Latham include:
1. John Latham (1740-1837), an English naturalist and ornithologist, best known for his work on bird taxonomy and his contributions to the study of Australian wildlife.
2. William Latham (1609-1671), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War.
3. Henry Latham (1822-1904), an English clergyman and antiquarian who wrote extensively on the history and archaeology of the West Riding of Yorkshire.
4. Robert Gordon Latham (1812-1888), an English ethnologist, philologist, and antiquarian, known for his work on comparative philology and the classification of languages.
5. John Latham (1761-1843), an English surgeon and medical writer, best known for his work on the treatment of fractures and dislocations.
The Latham surname continues to be prevalent in various parts of England, particularly in the northwest region around Lancashire and Greater Manchester, reflecting its historical origins and associations with those areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Latham
Among Census respondents with the surname Latham, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.0%. The next largest groups are Black (16.1%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Latham 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 Latham surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.0%
- Black or African American16.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Latham 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,693 | #1,693 | 0.0% |
| Count | 21,277 | 21,277 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 7.21 | 7.21 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Latham bearers went from 21,277 to 21,277 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,693 to #1,693.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Latham
FAQ
Latham surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Latham?
The surname Latham holds position #1,693 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 24,713 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Latham surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Latham, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.0%. The next largest groups are Black (16.1%) and Hispanic (2.0%). 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.