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

Woolum, 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 Woolum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woolum in America

Woolum is the 23333rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woolum surname appeared 1,091 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 Woolum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woolum 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 Woolum

The surname Woolum is of Anglo-Saxon origin, rooted primarily in England. Historians trace the name back to early medieval times, specifically around the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is believed to derive from a location-based nomenclature, indicating that its earliest bearers were likely tied to a region or a specific landscape known for its wool production or from a place called Wolham or Woolham. These place names themselves are thought to be derived from Old English elements, with "wull" meaning wool and "ham" meaning home or settlement. Thus, the name Woolum is intrinsically linked to wool traders or producers in the early English countryside.

One of the earliest references to a name similar to Woolum appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a great survey of England executed by order of King William the Conqueror. The entry notes a settlement called "Wuelham" which over time could have evolved in spelling and pronunciation to Woolum. Given that surnames only became hereditary in England around the 14th century, the surname Woolum likely originated from those residing in or near these wool-producing settlements.

A notable historical figure bearing this surname is John Woolum, born in 1453 in Norfolk. John was a prominent landowner, and records from 1485 show his involvement in local agricultural developments focused on wool production. Another early Woolum, Margaret Woolum, born in 1510, made her mark in history as a midwife whose detailed records helped illuminate the medical practices of the time, particularly in rural English communities.

In subsequent centuries, the name Woolum appears sporadically in various documents related to land ownership and trade. William Woolum, born in 1634, is noted in merchant records from London as a trader of wool goods, highlighting the continuation of the textile connection. In the late 18th century, Robert Woolum born in 1778, is noted for his contributions to early industrial wool processing methods. His innovations at the time are credited with improving the efficiency of wool milling in his region.

Another significant individual is Thomas Woolum, who emigrated to the American colonies in the early 19th century, born in 1802. Thomas established himself as a successful businessman in New York, contributing to the burgeoning wool trade in the New World. Documents from the mid-1800s provide glimpses into his involvement in the wool exchange markets.

The surname Woolum remains relatively rare, with a history deeply tied to the wool industry and rural settlements in early England. Its bearers have spanned various walks of life, but they share a common thread of influence in agricultural and industrial developments over numerous centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woolum

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

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

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

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