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

Walma, 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 Walma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Walma in America

Walma is the 103655th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Walma surname appeared 173 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 Walma.

We can also compare 2010 data for Walma 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 Walma

The surname WALMA is believed to have originated in the Netherlands during the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Dutch word "walm," which means "vapor" or "steam." This could suggest that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a smoky or steamy area, such as a blacksmith's forge or a bathhouse.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the WALMA surname can be found in the Dutch municipal records of the city of Amsterdam from the late 1500s. These records mention a family with the surname WALMA residing in the city's Jewish Quarter.

In the 17th century, the WALMA name appears in various Dutch colonial records from the East Indies (present-day Indonesia). These records indicate that several individuals with this surname were employed by the Dutch East India Company, which controlled much of the spice trade in the region at the time.

Notable individuals with the WALMA surname include Jan Walma (1603-1672), a Dutch merchant and trader who established several trading posts in the East Indies for the Dutch East India Company. Another prominent figure was Pieter Walma (1678-1741), a Dutch painter known for his landscape and still life works.

In the 18th century, the WALMA surname spread to other parts of Europe, including Germany and the Scandinavian countries. One notable individual from this period was Carl Walma (1715-1788), a Swedish botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in Scandinavia.

As the surname spread across Europe, it also underwent various spelling variations, such as Walma, Walmah, and Walmaa. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and linguistic traditions.

In the 19th century, individuals with the WALMA surname can be found in historical records from various parts of the world, including North America and Australia. One notable figure from this period was Henry Walma (1824-1901), a Dutch-American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the shipping industry and donated generously to various charitable causes.

Throughout its history, the WALMA surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including merchants, artists, scientists, and businesspeople. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Netherlands, it has since become a part of the global tapestry of surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Walma

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

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

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

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