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

Um, 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 Um surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Um in America

Um is the 17526th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Um surname appeared 1,607 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Um.

We can also compare 2010 data for Um 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 Um

The surname "Um" is believed to have originated from the German word "um," which means "around" or "about." This name is thought to have first appeared in the late 13th century in the region of Bavaria, located in modern-day Germany.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Um" can be found in a document from the year 1298, which mentions a certain "Johannes Um" residing in the town of Regensburg, Bavaria. It is possible that this individual's ancestors may have lived in or near a location that was situated "around" a particular landmark or geographical feature, leading to the adoption of the surname.

During the 14th century, the name "Um" began to spread beyond Bavaria and into other parts of the German-speaking world. For instance, in 1367, a man named "Heinrich Um" was recorded as a resident of the city of Cologne, located in what is now western Germany.

In the 15th century, the surname "Um" appeared in various historical records across different regions of Germany. One notable example is a document from 1457 that mentions a "Peter Um" who was a merchant based in the city of Hamburg.

As the centuries progressed, the surname "Um" continued to be found throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. Several individuals with this last name achieved recognition in various fields. One such person was Johann Friedrich Um (1707-1786), a prominent German theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious subjects.

Another notable figure with the surname "Um" was Karl Um (1824-1901), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of Berlin during the 19th century.

In the realm of literature, the German writer and poet Anna Um (1860-1932) gained recognition for her works, which often explored themes related to nature and the human condition.

While the surname "Um" is primarily associated with Germany, it has also been found in other parts of Europe, likely due to migration and other historical factors. For example, in the 19th century, there were records of individuals with the surname "Um" living in various regions of Austria and Switzerland.

Overall, the surname "Um" has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval Germany, with its origins potentially linked to geographical locations or landmarks. Throughout the centuries, individuals with this last name have made significant contributions in various fields, further adding to the legacy and significance of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Um

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

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

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

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