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

Thum, 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 Thum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thum in America

Thum is the 35246th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thum surname appeared 639 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 Thum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thum 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 Thum

The surname THUM is of German origin, and its roots can be traced back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the German word "tum," which translates to "thumb" or "great toe." It is believed that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a distinctive thumb or great toe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname THUM can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Silesiae, a collection of historical documents from the region of Silesia, in the year 1288. This document mentions a certain "Cunradus Thum," suggesting that the name was already in use during that time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records from the city of Nuremberg, which was a prominent center of trade and commerce in the Holy Roman Empire. One notable individual was Hans Thum, a respected merchant and trader who lived from 1380 to 1452.

During the 16th century, the surname THUM gained prominence in the region of Saxony, where it was associated with several notable figures. Among them was Johann Thum, a renowned theologian and reformer who lived from 1529 to 1591. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and was a close associate of Martin Luther.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Georg Thum, a military commander who lived from 1568 to 1633. He served in the Thirty Years' War and was known for his bravery and strategic prowess on the battlefield.

In the 18th century, the name THUM was particularly common in the region of Bavaria. One notable individual from this period was Johann Baptist Thum, a celebrated artist and sculptor who lived from 1726 to 1795. His works can still be found in various churches and museums across Bavaria.

The surname THUM has also been associated with several place names throughout Germany, such as Thumau, a town in the state of Saxony, and Thumsenreuth, a municipality in Bavaria. These place names likely derived from individuals who bore the surname and established settlements in those areas.

Throughout its history, the surname THUM has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, theologians, military leaders, and artists. While its origins can be traced back to a descriptive nickname, the name has evolved to become a proud part of German heritage and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thum

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

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

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

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