Explore the Family Name Fossum
The meaning of Fossum
Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead so named, especially in eastern Norway. The farm name, Forsheimr in Old Norse, is composed of the elements fors ‘waterfall’ + heimr ‘homestead’. Some characteristic forenames: Scandinavian Arnt, Erik, Fritjof, Jarl, Nels, Ove, Sig, Thor.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Fossum in the United States?
The surname Fossum experienced a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010, according to data based on the Decennial U.S. Census. Ranked 14,771st in 2000, it slipped to 15,743rd ten years later, reflecting a change of -6.58%. The number of individuals with this surname did see a minuscule growth during that decade, increasing from 1,844 to 1,852 which represents a 0.43% rise. However, when looking at the proportion per 100,000 people, there was a drop of -7.35%, falling from 0.68 to 0.63.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,771 | #15,743 | -6.58% |
| Count | 1,844 | 1,852 | 0.43% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.68 | 0.63 | -7.35% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Fossum
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some interesting shifts within the Fossum family from 2000 to 2010. The percentage identifying as Hispanic more than doubled, jumping from 0.98% to 2.11%. Individuals identifying themselves as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native also saw increases, with the former climbing from 0.43% to 0.70% and the latter from 0.76% to 1.08%. The proportion of those with two or more races remained static at 1.03%. The percentage of those identifying as white decreased slightly, dropping from 95.23% to 94.76%. Additionally, there was a significant decrease amongst those identifying as Black, which plummeted from 1.57% to 0.32%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.23% | 94.76% | -0.49% |
| Hispanic | 0.98% | 2.11% | 115.31% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.76% | 1.08% | 42.11% |
| Two or More Races | 1.03% | 1.03% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.43% | 0.7% | 62.79% |
| Black | 1.57% | 0.32% | -79.62% |