Schlemm last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Schlemm

A Germanic surname likely derived from the Middle High German term "slemmen" meaning "to guzzle" or "overindulge".

Schlemm, 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 Schlemm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schlemm in America

Schlemm is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schlemm surname appeared 145 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 Schlemm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schlemm 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 119508 108734 9.44%
Count 145 151 -4.05%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.06 -18.18%

The history of the last name Schlemm

The surname "SCHLEMM" is of German origin, originating in the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old High German word "slemmen," which means "to devour" or "to guzzle." It is believed that the name was originally given as a descriptive nickname to someone who had a hearty appetite or was known for their love of food and drink.

The earliest recorded instances of the name SCHLEMM can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of present-day Germany, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Saxony. In those times, surnames were often derived from personal characteristics, occupations, or places of origin.

One notable historical figure bearing the name SCHLEMM was Johann Schlemm, a German painter and engraver who lived in the 16th century (c. 1510 - c. 1580). He was known for his detailed engravings of landscapes and architectural scenes.

Another prominent individual with the surname SCHLEMM was Friedrich Schlemm, a German philosopher and theologian who lived in the 19th century (1795 - 1858). He was a professor at the University of Berlin and made significant contributions to the fields of religious studies and ethics.

In the realm of literature, the name SCHLEMM is associated with the German author and playwright Carl Schlemm, who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (1859 - 1923). He was known for his plays and novels that explored themes of social realism.

The surname SCHLEMM also has a connection to the field of medicine through the work of Friedrich Schlemm, a German anatomist and ophthalmologist who lived in the 19th century (1795 - 1858). He is best known for his discovery and description of the "Schlemm's canal," a crucial structure in the eye responsible for draining excess fluid.

Another notable figure with the surname SCHLEMM was Johann Georg Schlemm, a German architect and urban planner who lived in the 18th century (1723 - 1788). He was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several important buildings and urban developments in various German cities.

While the surname SCHLEMM has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the German cultural and linguistic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schlemm

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

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 Schlemm was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 79.31% 115
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 19.31% 28

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 79.31% 90.07% -12.71%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Hispanic 19.31% 9.93% 64.16%

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

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

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"Schlemm last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 14, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/schlemm-surname-popularity/.

"Schlemm last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/schlemm-surname-popularity/. Accessed 14 June, 2025

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

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