Explore the Family Name Kum
The meaning of Kum
1. Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 金, based on its Cantonese pronunciation, see Jin 1. 2. Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 甘, based on its Cantonese pronunciation, see Gan 1. 3. Cambodian: written ឃុំ, possibly of Chinese origin (compare above). The surname ឃុំ also corresponds to the Khmer word meaning ‘subdistrict, community’. 4. African (Cameroon and Ghana): unexplained. 5. Turkish: nickname or topographic name from kum ‘sand’. 6. Slovenian: relationship name or nickname from dialect kum ‘godfather’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kum in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Kum has seen a rise in its popularity. In 2000, it was ranked 55,003 and climbed to 43,438 by 2010, showing an increase of 21.03 percent. The count of people carrying this surname also rose from 350 in 2000 to 497 in 2010, marking a 42 percent growth. The proportion per 100k went up as well, from 0.13 in 2000 to 0.17 in 2010, with a change of 30.77 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #55,003 | #43,438 | 21.03% |
| Count | 350 | 497 | 42% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.17 | 30.77% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kum
The distribution of the surname Kum among different ethnicities, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, is quite diverse. The Asian/Pacific Islander community had the largest share, although it decreased from 67.43 percent in 2000 to 61.57 percent in 2010. Those identifying with two or more races dropped slightly from 6.86 percent to 6.24 percent. The percentage of individuals with this surname who identify as White also declined from 10.57 percent in 2000 to 8.85 percent in 2010. There was no representation within the Hispanic and American Indian and Alaskan Native communities in 2000, but by 2010, 1.81 percent identified as Hispanic. The Black community saw the most substantial growth, with representation increasing from 14.57 percent in 2000 to 21.53 percent in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 67.43% | 61.57% | -8.69% |
| Black | 14.57% | 21.53% | 47.77% |
| White | 10.57% | 8.85% | -16.27% |
| Two or More Races | 6.86% | 6.24% | -9.04% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.81% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |