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

Strom, 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 Strom surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Strom in America

Strom is the 3877th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Strom surname appeared 9,142 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 Strom.

We can also compare 2010 data for Strom 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 Strom

The surname Strom originated in Sweden and has its roots in the Old Norse word "straumr", which means "stream" or "current". This name is thought to have been first adopted by people who lived near a river or stream.

In the early medieval period, the name was found in various parts of Scandinavia, particularly in the regions of modern-day Sweden and Norway. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, when a man named Inge Stromsson was mentioned in the Icelandic sagas.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Strom surname appeared in various records and manuscripts across Scandinavia. One notable example is the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of Norwegian historical documents from the 12th to the 16th centuries, which contains several references to individuals with the Strom surname.

In the 16th century, the name Strom can be found in the Swedish parish records, particularly in the regions of Västergötland and Småland. During this time, the spelling of the name varied, with forms such as Strohm, Ström, and Stråhm appearing in different records.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Strom surname was Johan Strom, a Swedish clergyman born in 1584 in Småland. He served as a vicar in several parishes and was known for his efforts in promoting education and literacy in rural areas.

Another notable figure with the Strom surname was Hans Strom, a Norwegian naturalist and clergyman born in 1726 in Sogndal. He made significant contributions to the study of natural history in Norway and authored several works on the flora and fauna of the region.

In the 19th century, the Strom surname gained prominence in the United States due to Swedish and Norwegian immigration. One of the earliest known Strom immigrants was Nils Strom, who arrived in New York City from Sweden in 1842.

Another notable individual with the Strom surname was Vilhelm Strom, a Swedish-American engineer born in 1874 in Småland. He played a crucial role in the construction of the Panama Canal and was recognized for his innovative engineering solutions.

As the Strom surname spread across different regions, it adopted variations in spelling and pronunciation, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of those areas. However, the name's core meaning and connection to water sources remained a common thread throughout its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Strom

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

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

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

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