Woomer last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Woomer

A surname possibly derived from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "to dwell."

Woomer, 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 Woomer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woomer in America

Woomer is the 23222nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woomer surname appeared 1,098 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 Woomer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woomer 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 23222 21916 5.79%
Count 1,098 1,104 -0.54%
Proportion per 100k 0.37 0.41 -10.26%

The history of the last name Woomer

The surname Woomer has its origins in medieval England, specifically dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. It is believed to have arisen from the Old English terms "womb" or "woom," which referred to a hollow or a concave space. This would likely be indicative of someone living in a valley or a hollowed-out area. The name might have functioned as a topographical surname, identifying its bearer's residence relative to the landscape.

Early records of the surname can be traced to county tax rolls and land grants. One of the earliest occurrences is found in a 1273 poll tax record listing a William Womre in Yorkshire. It is important to note that medieval spelling was phonetic and fluid, so variations such as Wommer, Womer, and even Womere could be found in early documents.

One significant historical reference to the Woomer surname is found in the 1379 Poll Tax records for the West Riding of Yorkshire, documenting a Richard Womere. This not only confirms the geographical spread of the name in Northern England but also indicates its relative antiquity and persistence through generations.

In the 15th century, the records show another prominent bearer of the name, John Womer, who was registered as a freeman in the city of York in 1463. His documented trade as a merchant indicates the versatility and social mobility of individuals carrying this surname in medieval English society.

By the time of the 16th century, the Woomer name had extended its reach beyond purely rural settings, appearing in parish records and wills. Simon Woomer, born circa 1510, was a noted churchwarden in the parish of St. Mary in Staffordshire, providing a glimpse into the civic roles held by individuals with this surname.

Another notable historical figure is Thomas Woomer, born in 1625, who was among the early English settlers in the American colonies. He arrived in what is now Virginia and participated in the establishment of early colonial governance structures, illustrating the transatlantic migration patterns of the period.

Among the most recognized individuals with this surname in the United States during the 18th century is Benjamin Woomer, born in 1742, who served in the Pennsylvania militia during the American Revolutionary War. His service record is well-documented, highlighting the name's continued prominence and adaptation in new settings.

In summary, the surname Woomer has a rich and varied history, originating in medieval England and evolving through centuries of social and geographical changes. The name has been borne by various notable figures, spanning from medieval tradesmen and churchwardens to early American settlers and Revolutionary War veterans.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woomer

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

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 Woomer was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.26% 1,046
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.55% 6
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 1.00% 11
Hispanic Origin 2.82% 31

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.26% 96.65% -1.45%
Black 0.55% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.00% 1.09% -8.61%
Hispanic 2.82% 1.90% 38.98%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

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

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

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

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