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

Orem, 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 Orem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Orem in America

Orem is the 23532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Orem surname appeared 1,079 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 Orem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Orem 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 Orem

The surname Orem is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "or" meaning "border" or "edge" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near the edge or border of a town or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named "Orom" in the county of Lincolnshire. This provides evidence that the name was in use in England as early as the 11th century.

In the 13th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Orem residing in the village of Oram, located in the county of Nottinghamshire. This place name is believed to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

During the 14th century, a notable figure named John Orem (c. 1320 - 1390) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of York. He is mentioned in several historical records and is considered one of the earliest well-documented individuals with this surname.

Another significant figure was William Orem (c. 1580 - 1648), a English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Combe St. Nicholas in Somerset. He wrote several religious works and is remembered for his contributions to the theological literature of the time.

In the 17th century, Richard Orem (1626 - 1698) was a renowned English physician and writer. He authored several medical treatises and was appointed as a physician to the Royal Household, serving under King Charles II.

During the 18th century, the surname Orem appears to have spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records showing individuals bearing this name in Scotland and Ireland. One notable figure from this period was James Orem (1735 - 1810), a Scottish poet and playwright who is best known for his satirical works.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Orem continued to be found throughout England, with various spellings and variations emerging, such as Oram, Orem, and Oream. While the name has remained relatively uncommon, it has persisted as a distinct surname with a rich historical lineage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Orem

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

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

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

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