Explore the Family Name Northam
The meaning of Northam
English (southwestern): habitational name from Northam (Devon), Northam Farm in Brean (Somerset), Northam in Southampton (Hampshire), or a lost Northam in Redbridge Hundred, Hampshire. The placenames derive from Old English north ‘north, northern’ + hām ‘village, homestead’ or hamm ‘water meadow’. Northam in Southampton is likely to derive from hamm, as the settlement is hemmed in by a bend in the river Itchen.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Northam in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Northam has increased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Northam was ranked 22,983 in terms of popularity but had moved up to 21,483 by 2010, a change of 6.53%. Additionally, the count of individuals with this surname increased from 1,039 in 2000 to 1,216 in 2010, showing a growth rate of 17.04%. The proportion of this surname per 100,000 people also saw an uptick from 0.39 to 0.41 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,983 | #21,483 | 6.53% |
| Count | 1,039 | 1,216 | 17.04% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.41 | 5.13% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Northam
On ethnicity front, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that the majority of people with the surname Northam identified as White, although there was a slight decrease from 91.63% in 2000 to 90.63% in 2010. A notable increase was seen in those who identify with two or more ethnicities, which rose from 0.48% in 2000 to 1.32% in 2010, a significant 175% rise. Those identifying as Hispanic saw a small increase, while the percentage of Black individuals decreased slightly. No individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.63% | 90.63% | -1.09% |
| Black | 5.49% | 5.1% | -7.1% |
| Hispanic | 1.73% | 1.81% | 4.62% |
| Two or More Races | 0.48% | 1.32% | 175% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |