Schumer
An Ashkenazic Jewish surname derived from the German term for a skinner or furrier.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,131 Americans carry the last name Schumer. That puts it at #25,152 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.33 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 303,054 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Schumer surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.1K
1 in 303,054
Census rank
#25,152
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
986
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 986 bearers of the surname Schumer in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.33 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 25152nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Schumer, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Schumer
The surname Schumer is of German origin, derived from the Old German word "schuome," meaning "foam" or "froth." It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, possibly as an occupational name for a soap maker or a brewer.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 14th century in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony in Germany. One of the earliest known bearers was Hans Schumer, a merchant from Nuremberg, who was mentioned in records from the year 1374.
In the 16th century, the name appears in various manuscripts and records across German-speaking regions. For instance, a certain Johannes Schumer was a prominent theologian and author from Strasbourg, who lived between 1492 and 1558.
As the name spread across Europe, it also took on different spellings and variations, such as Schuemer, Schumer, and Schümer. Some of these variants were influenced by local dialects and linguistic traditions.
One notable figure with this surname was Carl Schumer, a German-American artist and illustrator born in 1859 in Saxony. He immigrated to the United States in the late 19th century and became known for his illustrations in various publications, including Harper's Magazine.
Another individual of note was Otto Schumer, a German chemist and inventor who lived from 1858 to 1928. He is credited with developing several important industrial processes, including the production of synthetic camphor.
In the 20th century, the name gained prominence in the United States with the rise of politicians and public figures, such as Charles E. Schumer, a Democratic Senator from New York born in 1950, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 1999.
Other notable individuals with the surname Schumer include Robert Schumer, an American businessman and philanthropist born in 1938, and Amy Schumer, an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer born in 1981.
While the name has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, where it continues to be a prominent surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Schumer
Among Census respondents with the surname Schumer, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Schumer bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Schumer surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.3%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Hispanic or Latino1.3%
- Black or African American0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Schumer surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,152 | #25,152 | 0.0% |
| Count | 986 | 986 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Schumer bearers went from 986 to 986 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #25,152 to #25,152.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Schumer
FAQ
Schumer surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Schumer?
The surname Schumer holds position #25,152 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,131 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.33 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Schumer surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Schumer, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.