Explore the Family Name Rahm
The meaning of Rahm
German: 1. topographic name from Middle High German, Middle Low German rām(e) ‘end, target, mark’, or a habitational name from any of several places in Westphalia and Rhineland named with this word. This surname (in any of the possible senses; see also below) is also found in France (Alsace). 2. from Middle High German, Middle Low German rām ‘soot’, possibly a metonymic occupational name for a blacksmith or charcoal burner, or a nickname for a dirty person. 3. metonymic occupational name for a maker of frames (windows, looms, and the like), from Middle High German rame ‘stand, rack, frame’. 4. (Rähm): variant of Rehm. History: This surname is listed along with its altered form Rame in the (US) National Huguenot Society’s register of qualified Huguenot ancestors.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rahm in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Rahm saw slight fluctuations between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Rahm held the rank of 16,635 in terms of surname popularity within the United States, but it slipped to 17,385 by 2010, indicating a decrease of 4.51%. However, the actual count of people with the Rahm surname increased by 2.4% over the same period, growing from 1,586 individuals to 1,624. Yet, the proportion per 100,000 people slightly decreased, from 0.59 in 2000 to 0.55 in 2010, resulting in a drop of 6.78%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,635 | #17,385 | -4.51% |
| Count | 1,586 | 1,624 | 2.4% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.59 | 0.55 | -6.78% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rahm
The ethnic identity associated with the Rahm surname also showed changes over the decade according to the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the majority of individuals with the Rahm surname identified as White, at 95.84%, and this figure rose slightly to 96.37% by 2010. The second most common ethnicity, Asian/Pacific Islander, decreased significantly from 1.58% in 2000 to 0.99% in 2010. Similarly, those identifying with two or more races fell from 1.32% to 0.80%. There was a decline among those identifying as Hispanic, from 1.13% to 0.86%. Interestingly, there were no recorded instances of the Rahm surname among Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native ethnicities in 2000, but by 2010, these groups represented 0.55% and 0.43% respectively of the Rahm surname holders.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.84% | 96.37% | 0.55% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.58% | 0.99% | -37.34% |
| Hispanic | 1.13% | 0.86% | -23.89% |
| Two or More Races | 1.32% | 0.8% | -39.39% |
| Black | 0% | 0.55% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.43% | 0% |