2000
#147,095
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Schaalma
A locational surname derived from a place name in the Netherlands, potentially related to the Dutch words for scale or bowl.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Schaalma. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Schaalma surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Schaalma in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Schaalma, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Schaalma
The surname SCHAALMA is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, likely in the 16th or 17th century. It is thought to be derived from the Dutch words "schaal" meaning "bowl" or "dish" and "ma" which could refer to a maker or seller of such items. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been involved in the production or trade of bowls, dishes, or other similar ceramic or wooden wares.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the SCHAALMA name can be found in the Dutch archives from the city of Amsterdam, dated around the late 1600s. These records indicate that a family with this surname was residing in the Jordaan neighborhood, which was known for its thriving artisan community at the time.
In the 18th century, the SCHAALMA name appears in various church records and municipal documents across various regions of the Netherlands, including the provinces of Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, and Utrecht. This suggests that the name had spread to different areas, likely as families migrated or established new branches.
One notable individual with the SCHAALMA surname was Pieter SCHAALMA, a merchant and trader who lived in the city of Rotterdam in the early 1700s. Records indicate that he was involved in the import and export of various goods, including ceramics and glassware, which aligns with the potential origin of the name.
Another individual of historical significance was Johannes SCHAALMA, a renowned potter and ceramicist who lived in the city of Delft in the late 18th century. His work was highly regarded for its intricate designs and skilled craftsmanship, and he is believed to have played a role in the development of the iconic Delft Blue pottery style.
In the 19th century, the SCHAALMA name can be found in various genealogical records and census data from the Netherlands, as well as in some instances in neighboring countries like Belgium and Germany, likely due to migration and intermarriage.
One notable figure from this era was Willem SCHAALMA, a Dutch architect and urban planner who was born in 1826 and lived until 1901. He was responsible for designing several notable public buildings and urban developments in the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Another individual worth mentioning is Anna SCHAALMA, a Dutch author and poet who lived from 1845 to 1918. She gained recognition for her writings on social issues and women's rights, and her works were widely published and influential during her lifetime.
Overall, the surname SCHAALMA has a rich history rooted in the Netherlands, with potential ties to the artisan and trade communities of the 16th and 17th centuries. While the name has become more widespread over time, its origins and early bearers can be traced back to various historical records and notable figures from the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Schaalma
Among Census respondents with the surname Schaalma, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Schaalma bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Schaalma surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.3% · 119
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Schaalma
Schaalma appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#133,048
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 127
+24 bearers (+23.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 14,047 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
-6 bearers (-4.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 8,261 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #147,095 | 103 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #133,048 | 127 | 0.04 | +24 bearers (+23.3%) | Up 14,047 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | -6 bearers (-4.7%) | Down 8,261 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Schaalma surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #133,048 | #141,309 | -6.2% |
| Count | 127 | 121 | -4.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Schaalma bearers went from 127 to 121 (-4.7% change). The surname moved down 8,261 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,048 to #141,309.
FAQ
Schaalma surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Schaalma?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Schaalma. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Schaalma?
Schaalma ranks #141,309 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 121 people with the surname Schaalma. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Schaalma.
Has Schaalma become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Schaalma went from 127 recorded bearers to 121. That is a decrease of 6 (-4.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,048 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Schaalma?
Among Census respondents with the surname Schaalma, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Schaalma in the 2020 Census, accounting for 98.3% (119 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Schaalma appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (98.3%), Two or More Races (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Schaalma (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Schaalma mean?
A locational surname derived from a place name in the Netherlands, potentially related to the Dutch words for scale or bowl. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Schaalma (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Schaalma?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.