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

Prahm, 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 Prahm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prahm in America

Prahm is the 109258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prahm surname appeared 162 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 Prahm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prahm 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 Prahm

The surname PRAHM is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Low German word "praam," which referred to a type of flat-bottomed boat or barge commonly used for transportation on rivers and canals.

In the early days, the name PRAHM was likely associated with individuals involved in the boating or shipping industry, particularly those who operated or owned these distinctive flat-bottomed vessels. The name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to those whose livelihood revolved around these watercraft.

Historical records suggest that the earliest known instances of the PRAHM surname can be traced back to the regions of northern Germany, particularly in areas like Hamburg and Bremen, where waterways played a crucial role in trade and transportation. The name has also been found in old church registers and municipal records from these areas, dating back to the 1500s and 1600s.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the PRAHM surname was Hans PRAHM, a merchant and ship owner from the city of Hamburg, who lived in the late 16th century. Another notable figure was Johann PRAHM, a respected shipbuilder from Bremen, who was active in the early 17th century and is credited with introducing innovative design elements in the construction of flat-bottomed boats.

As the name spread beyond its initial geographical origins, variations in spelling became common. Some examples include PRAHME, PRAM, and PRAMM, which can be found in historical records from various regions of Germany and neighboring countries.

Over the centuries, the PRAHM surname has been associated with several notable individuals. Peter PRAHM (1740-1818) was a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. Friedrich PRAHM (1857-1920) was a influential German architect known for his work in the Historicist style, with many of his buildings still standing in cities like Berlin and Dresden.

Another prominent figure was Margarethe PRAHM (1875-1956), a German soprano who enjoyed a successful career performing in operas and concerts across Europe in the early 20th century. More recently, Ulrich PRAHM (1928-2017) was a respected German writer and journalist, known for his insightful works on cultural and political topics.

While the PRAHM surname may have originated from humble beginnings associated with the boating industry, it has since spread across Germany and beyond, with individuals bearing this name making notable contributions in various fields over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prahm

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

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

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

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