Sossamon
An Anglicized surname derived from the indigenous Massachusett tribe and place name.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 480 Americans carry the last name Sossamon. That puts it at #50,196 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 714,072 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sossamon 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
480
1 in 714,072
Census rank
#50,196
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
417
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 417 bearers of the surname Sossamon in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 50196th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sossamon, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (3.1%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sossamon
The surname Sossamon has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "soth" meaning south and "hamm" meaning a meadow or enclosure. The name likely referred to someone who lived in the southern part of a village or near a southern meadow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sossamon can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a Robert de Suthamton in Oxfordshire. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Sothampton, Suthampton, and Suthhamton in various records and documents from different parts of England.
The Sossamon surname is closely associated with the tragic figure of John Sossamon (also spelled Sassamon or Sousaman), a Native American interpreter and Christian convert who was born around 1619 and played a crucial role in the events leading up to King Philip's War in 1675. He was brutally murdered by members of the Wampanoag tribe, and his death was a catalyst for the conflict.
Another notable bearer of the Sossamon surname was Edward Sossamon, a British explorer and adventurer who lived in the late 16th century. He is believed to have been one of the first Englishmen to travel extensively in the Americas, particularly in modern-day Brazil and the Caribbean region.
In the 17th century, the Sossamon name appeared in various parish records and court documents across England, particularly in counties such as Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire.
Thomas Sossamon, born in 1642 in Oxfordshire, was a prominent figure in the English Civil War, serving as a captain in the Parliamentarian forces. He fought in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.
Another individual of note was William Sossamon, born in 1702 in Berkshire, who was a renowned clockmaker and inventor. He is credited with developing one of the earliest forms of the chronometer, a highly accurate timepiece used for navigation at sea.
While the Sossamon surname has undergone various spellings and variations over the centuries, it remains a distinctive name with deep historical roots in England, particularly in the southern regions of the country.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sossamon
Among Census respondents with the surname Sossamon, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (3.1%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Sossamon 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 Sossamon surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races2.6%
- Unknown or suppressed0.9%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sossamon 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #47,120 | #50,196 | -6.5% |
| Count | 424 | 417 | -1.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.14 | -12.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Sossamon bearers went from 424 to 417 (-1.7% change). The surname moved down 3,076 positions in the national ranking, going from #47,120 to #50,196.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sossamon
FAQ
Sossamon surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sossamon?
The surname Sossamon holds position #50,196 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 480 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sossamon surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sossamon, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (3.1%) and Hispanic (2.6%). 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.