Quamme last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Quamme

A Scandinavian surname derived from a place name or topographic element.

Quamme, 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 Quamme surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Quamme in America

Quamme is the 48901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Quamme surname appeared 431 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 Quamme.

We can also compare 2010 data for Quamme 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 48901 44821 8.71%
Count 431 451 -4.54%
Proportion per 100k 0.15 0.17 -12.50%

The history of the last name Quamme

The surname Quamme originates from Norway, with its earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "kvamme," which means a small valley or a hollow in the landscape. The name likely referred to a person who lived in or near such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name Quamme can be found in the parish records of Voss, a municipality in the county of Vestland, Norway. In the late 16th century, a family by the name of Quamme was recorded as residing in the area, with their name possibly linked to a local place name or topographical feature.

As the name spread across Norway, various spellings emerged, including Kvamme, Qvamme, and Quamme. These variations reflect the regional dialects and linguistic adaptations that occurred over time. It is worth noting that the name Quamme was more commonly found in the western regions of Norway, particularly in areas where the Old Norse language had a stronger influence.

Throughout history, several notable individuals bore the surname Quamme. One such person was Hans Quamme (1540-1612), a prominent farmer and landowner in the village of Voss. His descendants played an influential role in the local community for generations.

Another noteworthy figure was Ingrid Quamme (1672-1738), a respected herbalist and midwife in the town of Fana, near Bergen. Her knowledge of traditional remedies and healing practices earned her a reputation that extended beyond her local community.

In the 19th century, Lars Quamme (1810-1882) made a name for himself as a skilled woodcarver and craftsman. His intricate works adorned churches and buildings throughout the region, and his legacy inspired subsequent generations of artists and artisans.

As Norwegians began emigrating to other parts of the world, the surname Quamme traveled with them. One of the earliest known instances of the name appearing outside of Norway was in the United States. Olav Quamme (1825-1901), a farmer from Voss, settled in Wisconsin in the mid-19th century, establishing a new lineage of the Quamme family in America.

Lastly, Einar Quamme (1892-1965), a Norwegian-American engineer and inventor, made significant contributions to the field of aeronautics. His work on aircraft design and propulsion systems played a crucial role in the development of early aviation technology.

These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the surname Quamme, spanning centuries and crossing geographical boundaries. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been carried by individuals who left their mark in various fields, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of those who bore this distinctive Norwegian surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Quamme

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

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 Quamme was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.98% 418
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.32% 10
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Quamme has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.98% 98.89% -1.95%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 2.32% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Quamme last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/quamme-surname-popularity/.

"Quamme last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/quamme-surname-popularity/. Accessed 13 October, 2024

Quamme last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/quamme-surname-popularity/.

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