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

Nuzum, 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 Nuzum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nuzum in America

Nuzum is the 18648th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nuzum surname appeared 1,475 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Nuzum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nuzum 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 Nuzum

The surname NUZUM is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest known bearers hailing from regions such as Bavaria and Saxony. The name likely derives from the Old German word "nutz," meaning "useful" or "profitable," suggesting it may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked in a trade or profession considered valuable to the community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NUZUM surname dates back to the 13th century, when a Hans Nuzum was mentioned in a medieval German document from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Other early spellings of the name include Nutzen, Nutzman, and Nutzemann, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and orthography.

In the 16th century, the NUZUM name appeared in several records from the Holy Roman Empire, including the birth of a Johann Nuzum in Augsburg in 1542. During this time, the name also began to spread beyond Germany, with a branch of the family settling in the Netherlands, where the spelling was adapted to Nutsem or Nutsema.

While no NUZUM individuals of particular historical significance have been identified, several notable people with similar surnames can be found throughout history. For instance, Johann Christoph Nutzen (1675-1756) was a German philosopher and mathematician who made contributions to the field of calculus. In the realm of literature, the Dutch poet and playwright Adriaen Nutsema (1589-1656) is remembered for his work in the Dutch Renaissance.

As the NUZUM name continued to disperse across Europe in subsequent centuries, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and emigration. In the 19th century, a family bearing the NUZUM surname settled in the United States, with records indicating the birth of a William Nuzum in Pennsylvania in 1832.

Another notable figure with this surname was the American botanist Henry Nutsum (1856-1932), who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and conducted extensive fieldwork in the western United States. Additionally, the British actor and playwright Anthony Nutzem (1902-1985) achieved recognition for his roles in several popular films and television shows during the mid-20th century.

While the NUZUM surname may not be among the most widespread or well-known, its origins and historical journey reflect the diverse cultural influences and migrations that have shaped many family names over the centuries, serving as a testament to the rich tapestry of human experiences and lineages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nuzum

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

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

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

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