Truman
Derived from the Middle English term "trueman," meaning an honest or trustworthy man.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,410 Americans carry the last name Truman. That puts it at #6,195 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.87 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 53,472 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Truman 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
6.4K
1 in 53,472
Census rank
#6,195
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,521 bearers of the surname Truman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.87 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6195th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Truman, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.9%. The next largest groups are Black (5.5%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Truman
The surname Truman has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon era of England, deriving from the Old English words "trum" and "mann," which together mean "strong man." It was a name bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional physical prowess or valor in battle.
During the medieval period, the Truman name was prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Variations of the spelling, such as Trewman and Trumann, were also common in historical records.
One of the earliest known references to the Truman name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landholdings in England following the Norman Conquest. The name appears in several entries, suggesting its establishment as a surname by that time.
Notable individuals bearing the Truman surname include Sir Thomas Truman (1638-1703), a prominent English merchant and philanthropist, and Benjamin Truman (1699-1780), a renowned brewer who founded the Truman Brewery in London.
In the United States, the most famous bearer of the Truman name was Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), the 33rd President of the United States. Truman's political career began in Missouri, where he served as a county judge and U.S. Senator before becoming Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt and ultimately ascending to the presidency.
Other notable Trumans throughout history include John Truman (1701-1760), an English clergyman and author, and Thomas Truman (1785-1835), an English engraver and renowned book illustrator.
The Truman surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Truman, Minnesota, and Truman, Arkansas, both named after President Harry S. Truman. These place names serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of this storied surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Truman
Among Census respondents with the surname Truman, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.9%. The next largest groups are Black (5.5%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Truman 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 Truman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.9%
- Black or African American5.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Truman 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,195 | #6,195 | 0.0% |
| Count | 5,521 | 5,521 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.87 | 1.87 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Truman bearers went from 5,521 to 5,521 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #6,195 to #6,195.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Truman
FAQ
Truman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Truman?
The surname Truman holds position #6,195 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,410 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.87 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Truman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Truman, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.9%. The next largest groups are Black (5.5%) 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.