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

Nelms, 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 Nelms surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nelms in America

Nelms is the 4833rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nelms surname appeared 7,303 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Nelms.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nelms 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 Nelms

The surname Nelms is believed to have originated in England, likely in the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variant of the surname Nelme or Nelm, which derived from the Old English word "nelm," meaning "cloud" or "mist." This suggests that the name may have been a descriptive nickname given to someone who lived in a misty or cloudy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nelms can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a William Nelme is listed. The surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, indicating its presence in different regions of England during this time period.

In the 14th century, the name Nelms was sometimes spelled as Nelme or Nelm, reflecting its origins. For example, in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1380, a John Nelme is mentioned.

The surname Nelms has also been associated with various place names, such as Nelmeswell in Sussex, which was recorded in the 13th century as "Nelmesmelle." This suggests that some individuals with the surname may have taken their name from the place where they lived or originated.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Nelms. One example is Thomas Nelms (c. 1580-1640), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Waltham St. Lawrence in Berkshire. Another is William Nelms (1667-1735), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, John Nelms (1817-1887) was an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Nelms Institute in Burnley, Lancashire, which provided educational opportunities for working-class individuals. Edward Nelms (1857-1933) was a prominent British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Nelms Building on Holborn Viaduct.

Another noteworthy individual was Mary Nelms (1891-1977), an American writer and journalist who authored several books on Southern culture and history. She was also a contributor to various publications, including the Saturday Evening Post and the Atlanta Constitution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nelms

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

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

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

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