Explore the Family Name Malham

The meaning of Malham

English (mainly Yorkshire): 1. habitational name from Malham (Yorkshire), traditionally pronounced [maləm] or [mɔ:m]. The placename appears to derive from malgum, a word of uncertain origin and meaning, perhaps a dative plural form of Old Norse malgr ‘stony place’ or a dative plural form of Old Norse malr ‘sack, bag’, used in the sense ‘pit, hollow’. 2. alternatively, it could be a habitational name from Malham Farm in Wisborough Green (Sussex), which is probably derived from Old English mǣl ‘cross’ + hām ‘village, homestead’ or hamm ‘enclosure, water meadow’.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Malham in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Malham has seen an increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 93,841 in popularity, with 181 individuals carrying the name. By 2010, the rank had slightly improved to 92,358, signifying an increase of approximately 1.58%. Additionally, the count of individuals bearing the Malham surname increased by approximately 9.94% from 181 in 2000 to 199 in 2010. However, the proportion of the surname per 100,000 people remained constant at 0.07 in both years.

20002010Change
Rank#93,841#92,3581.58%
Count1811999.94%
Proportion per 100k0.070.070%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Malham

On the subject of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the Malham surname identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, constituting 90.61% and 90.95% respectively, with a minor increase of 0.38%. The Hispanic representation also saw an increase from 4.42% in 2000 to 6.03% in 2010, amounting to a substantial change of 36.43%. There was a presence of individuals identifying with two or more races in 2000, making up 4.42%, but this figure dropped to zero by 2010. There were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.

20002010Change
White90.61%90.95%0.38%
Hispanic4.42%6.03%36.43%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
Two or More Races4.42%0%0%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%