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

Strahm, 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 Strahm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Strahm in America

Strahm is the 24370th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Strahm surname appeared 1,028 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 Strahm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Strahm 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 Strahm

The surname Strahm is of German origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period in central Europe. It is believed to be derived from the Old High German word "stram," meaning "rigorous" or "strict." This suggests that the name may have initially been applied as a descriptive nickname for someone perceived as a stern or uncompromising individual.

The earliest known records of the Strahm surname can be found in various German chronicles and municipal documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable reference appears in the Rechtsquellen von Basel, a collection of legal records from the city of Basel, Switzerland, which mentions a certain Heinricus Stram in the year 1289.

As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it evolved into various spelling variations, such as Stram, Strahm, Stramm, and Strähm. These variations can be found in various historical records, including church registers, tax rolls, and guild memberships throughout the late medieval and early modern periods.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Strahm surname was Johannes Strahm, a respected scholar and theologian from Nuremberg, who lived from 1510 to 1582. He is known for his contributions to the Protestant Reformation and his writings on religious teachings.

Another notable figure was Johann Georg Strahm, a German composer and organist who lived from 1675 to 1737. He is credited with composing numerous sacred works and serving as the court organist for the Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

In the 19th century, Karl August Strahm (1822-1891) was a prominent German industrialist and entrepreneur. He founded the Strahm & Co. company, which played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in Saxony.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Strahm surname in North America was Johann Michael Strahm, a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania in the early 18th century. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the United States.

Another notable bearer of the Strahm name was Swiss-born Eduard Strahm (1846-1920), a renowned architect and urban planner. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Zurich and played a pivotal role in shaping the city's urban landscape.

While the Strahm surname is most commonly associated with German and Swiss heritage, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and cultural diffusion. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval German-speaking regions, where it emerged as a descriptive surname reflecting the perceived character traits of its earliest bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Strahm

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

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

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

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