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

Lonesome, 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 Lonesome surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lonesome in America

Lonesome is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lonesome surname appeared 113 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 Lonesome.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lonesome 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 Lonesome

The surname Lonesome is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "lonesome," which meant "solitary" or "lonely." This name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who lived in isolation or resided in a remote area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lonesome can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1230, where a certain William Lonesome is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in that region by the 13th century.

During the 14th century, the surname Lonesome appeared in various historical records, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners in England. This indicates that individuals bearing this surname held property and were likely of some social standing at the time.

In the late 15th century, a notable figure named John Lonesome (c. 1450 - 1520) was recorded as a merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He is believed to have played a significant role in the local trade and economy during his lifetime.

The Lonesome surname can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Lonesome Hill in Berkshire and Lonesome Wood in Gloucestershire. These geographical locations may have influenced the surname's development and distribution.

Another prominent individual with the surname Lonesome was Sir William Lonesome (1570 - 1642), a member of the English gentry who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Taunton during the reign of King James I.

In the 17th century, the Lonesome family established themselves as landowners and members of the gentry in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.

During the English Civil War (1642 - 1651), a Captain Edward Lonesome (1610 - 1675) fought on the Parliamentarian side and was known for his bravery and military exploits. He later became a respected figure in his local community.

In the 18th century, the Reverend Thomas Lonesome (1715 - 1790) served as a clergyman in the Church of England and was noted for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy.

As the centuries progressed, the Lonesome surname continued to be found throughout various regions of England, with families adapting to different social and economic circumstances while maintaining their distinct identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lonesome

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

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

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

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