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

Newsome, 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 Newsome surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Newsome in America

Newsome is the 1491st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Newsome surname appeared 23,958 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Newsome.

We can also compare 2010 data for Newsome 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 Newsome

The surname Newsome originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "niwe" meaning new, and "ham" meaning homestead or village. It likely referred to someone who had moved to a newly established settlement. The name was first found in Yorkshire, where the earliest records show it spelled as Newsom, Newsham, or Newsome.

One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Walter de Neusum, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also recorded a William de Newsom in Cambridgeshire. These early records indicate the name was present in various parts of England by the 13th century.

The Newsome name appeared in several historical documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297, where a John de Newsome was listed. Additionally, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 mentioned a Ricardus Newsom. These entries suggest the name was well-established in Yorkshire by the late medieval period.

During the 16th century, the spelling of the name became more standardized as Newsome. One notable bearer from this time was William Newsome, a merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers in York, who lived from around 1530 to 1590.

In the 17th century, the Newsomes were present in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire, Westmorland, and Northumberland. A notable figure was John Newsome, a clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Boxford, Berkshire, from 1643 until his death in 1663.

The 18th century saw the Newsome name continue to spread across England. Notable individuals included William Newsome (1697-1752), a clockmaker from Pontefract, Yorkshire, and Thomas Newsome (1732-1807), a prominent architect and surveyor who worked in Leeds and surrounding areas.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most famous bearers of the Newsome name was Robert Newsome (1791-1855), a renowned English poet and writer from Yorkshire. Additionally, John Newsome (1814-1887) was a pioneering coal mine owner and entrepreneur in Durham.

Throughout its history, the Newsome surname has been associated with various places in England, particularly in Yorkshire, where it originated. The name has evolved from its Old English roots, but its core meaning of "new homestead" has remained consistent over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Newsome

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

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

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

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