Whyms last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Whyms

A surname originating from an old dialect word meaning "whims" or "fancies".

Whyms, 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 Whyms surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whyms in America

Whyms is the 105600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whyms surname appeared 169 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 Whyms.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whyms 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 105600 111740 -5.65%
Count 169 146 14.60%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.05 18.18%

The history of the last name Whyms

The surname Whyms has its origins primarily in the British Isles, with an early recorded presence in Ireland and England. The name is believed to have first appeared in the medieval period, likely around the 13th or 14th century. Its etymology may be linked to variations of the Norman or Anglo-Norman surnames that emerged following the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One possible origin of the name is from the Old English word "hwamm," which means a corner or a nook, relating to geographical features of where someone lived. Such a term could have created a locative surname for individuals residing in certain areas characterized by these features.

Historical references to this surname are relatively scarce, but records indicate that variations of the surname, such as Whym and Whymes, appeared throughout medieval England. The name's presence in Ireland, particularly in the Ulster region, might trace back to the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century when Anglo-Normans established themselves in Irish lands.

The earliest recorded example of the surname dates back to the 14th century when an individual named Richard Whym appears in the records of Shropshire, England. Another early reference is found in the 1381 Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire, where a William Whyme is listed.

As time progressed, the name also gained prominence in Ireland. One notable figure is Captain William Whyms, a military man who served under King William III during the Williamite War in Ireland, fighting in the late 17th century. His service exemplifies the participation of Anglo-Irish soldiers in significant historical events of that period.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname continued to be present in parish records and legal documents. One prominent person during this time was John Whyms, born in 1750, who was known for his work as a land surveyor in County Down, contributing to the mapping and development of rural Irish communities.

Another notable individual is Henry Whyms, who is recorded in historical church documents from the late 19th century as a clergyman. His service and dedication to the church reflect the integration of the surname into various social strata and professions.

In the context of notable families, the Whyms surname can be found in genealogical records connecting to specific locales, such as the village of Whym, which may have historically influenced the development of this surname. These families have often participated in the socio-economic fabric of their regions, contributing to farming, military, and church activities.

Overall, the surname Whyms illustrates a fascinating journey through history, with its roots deep in medieval England and Ireland, shaped by geographical, cultural, and social influences across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whyms

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

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 Whyms was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 24.85% 42
Non-Hispanic Black Only 60.95% 103
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 7.10% 12
Hispanic Origin 5.33% 9

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 Whyms has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 24.85% 22.60% 9.48%
Black 60.95% 69.18% -12.65%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 7.10% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 5.33% 6.16% -14.45%

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

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

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"Whyms last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/whyms-surname-popularity/.

"Whyms last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/whyms-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Whyms last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/whyms-surname-popularity/.

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