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

Shuman, 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 Shuman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shuman in America

Shuman is the 3937th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shuman surname appeared 9,043 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Shuman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shuman 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 Shuman

The surname SHUMAN is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "schūman," which means a shoemaker or cobbler. This occupational surname first emerged in the 13th century in various regions of present-day Germany and neighboring areas.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval German records, often appearing as variants such as Schuman, Schuhman, or Schuemann. One notable example is Johannes Schuman, a merchant from Nuremberg, who was mentioned in a document dated 1381.

In the 15th century, the name SHUMAN began to spread beyond Germany, carried by migrants and tradespeople seeking new opportunities. It can be found in historical records from regions like Switzerland, Poland, and the Netherlands.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name SHUMAN outside of Germany was Hans Schuman, a Swiss clockmaker born around 1460 in Basel. His innovative designs and craftsmanship brought him recognition throughout Europe.

As the name continued to spread, various spellings emerged, reflecting local dialects and linguistic influences. In England, for instance, the surname appeared as Shuman or Shoeman, while in France it took the form of Choumin or Choueman.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several notable figures bore the SHUMAN surname. Andrew Shuman (1630-1690) was a prominent Dutch merchant and landowner in New Amsterdam, later known as New York. Johann Shuman (1722-1786), a German composer and organist, gained fame for his sacred choral works.

In the 19th century, the name SHUMAN gained further recognition with individuals like William Shuman (1820-1898), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana. Another notable bearer was Jacob Gould Shuman (1854-1924), a New York-based architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings, including the New York Times Building and the Washington Memorial Arch.

Throughout its history, the surname SHUMAN has been closely tied to its occupational origins, reflecting the skills and craftsmanship of shoemakers and cobblers. While the name has evolved and spread across different regions, its linguistic roots remain firmly grounded in the German language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shuman

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

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

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

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