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

Putnam, 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 Putnam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Putnam in America

Putnam is the 1971st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Putnam surname appeared 18,340 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Putnam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Putnam 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 Putnam

The surname Putnam has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Puttenham, which is found in several counties including Surrey, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. The name is believed to derive from the Old English words "pytt" meaning a pit or hollow and "ham" meaning a homestead or village, thus translating to "the homestead or village by the pit or hollow."

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Puteham." This entry refers to a location in Surrey, which was likely the original place from which the surname originated. In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Puttenho," "Puttenhaw," and "Putteham" in various county records and tax rolls.

The first recorded instance of the spelling "Putnam" dates back to the late 16th century, with a Thomas Putnam mentioned in the parish records of Hertfordshire in 1586. This spelling became more commonly adopted over time, though variations such as "Puttenham" and "Puttnam" persisted for several centuries.

One notable figure associated with the Putnam surname is John Putnam (1579-1662), an early settler of Salem, Massachusetts, who arrived in the New World in 1634. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and served as a magistrate and lieutenant in the local militia.

Another prominent individual was Israel Putnam (1718-1790), a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He is renowned for his courageous actions in battles such as the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Long Island, and his daring escape from British dragoons has become a legendary tale.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with Mary Putnam Jacobi (1842-1906), a pioneering physician and writer who played a pivotal role in advancing women's rights and advocating for their admission to medical schools and professions.

George Palmer Putnam (1814-1872) was a prominent American publisher and founder of the publishing house G.P. Putnam's Sons, which played a significant role in the literary world of the 19th century.

Rufus Putnam (1738-1824) was a notable figure in the early history of the United States, serving as a surveyor and one of the founders of the settlement of Marietta, Ohio, which was the first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Putnam

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

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

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

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