Explore the Family Name Posthumus
The meaning of Posthumus
West Frisian and Dutch: from a personal name given to a child born after the death of his father, from Latin postumus ‘after death’, from post ‘after’ + humus ‘grave’. This surname is also found in northern Germany, including East Frisia, but it is rare there. Some characteristic forenames: Dutch Dirk, Koos. German Claus.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Posthumus in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Posthumus saw a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 46,614th in terms of most common surnames in the United States, but by 2010 it had moved up to 44,808th–a growth rate of 3.87 percent. The count of people with this surname also rose from 430 in 2000 to 479 in 2010, marking an 11.4 percent increase. However, the proportion of individuals bearing the Posthumus surname per 100,000 people in the population remained the same at 0.16.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #46,614 | #44,808 | 3.87% |
| Count | 430 | 479 | 11.4% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Posthumus
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that the majority of individuals with the Posthumus surname identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, with percentages standing at 96.74 and 98.12 respectively. This marks a small increase of 1.43 percent. The percentage of those identifying as Hispanic grew more notably from 1.16 percent in 2000 to 1.67 percent in 2010, indicating a 43.97 percent rise. Interestingly, while 1.86 percent of individuals with the Posthumus surname identified as belonging to two or more races in 2000, there were no such cases reported in 2010. No individuals with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native during either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.74% | 98.12% | 1.43% |
| Hispanic | 1.16% | 1.67% | 43.97% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.86% | 0% | -100% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |