Explore the Family Name Tum
The meaning of Tum
1. Cambodian: written ទុំ, from a Khmer word meaning ‘ripe, mature’. 2. Burmese (Chin): from a part of a male compound personal name, apparently from tum ‘to play/blow (an instrument)’ or ‘to intend’. — Note: Since Chins do not have hereditary surnames, this name element was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. 3. Amerindian (Guatemala; also Túm): Mayan name, a variant of Tun.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tum in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Tum has seen a notable increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Tum was ranked as the 86,341st most popular surname, but by 2010 it had climbed to 53,419th. This represents a substantial change of 38.13%. The number of people with the surname also rose during this period from 201 to 387, marking an impressive growth of 92.54%. As a result, the proportion of the population with the surname Tum per 100,000 inhabitants also increased from 0.07 in 2000 to 0.13 in 2010, a rise of 85.71%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #86,341 | #53,419 | 38.13% |
| Count | 201 | 387 | 92.54% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.13 | 85.71% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tum
In terms of ethnicity, according to the Decennial U.S. Census, there have been significant shifts among those carrying the Tum surname. In 2000, nearly 70% of people with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, but this figure dropped to just over half (50.90%) by 2010. Those identifying as having two or more ethnic identities saw a sharp decrease from 11.94% to 2.84%. There were minor changes within the White demographic, which slipped slightly from 6.47% to 6.20%. However, the Hispanic demographic experienced a remarkable surge from 8.96% to 34.11%. Additionally, in 2010, new groups emerged under this surname – Black at 4.13% and American Indian and Alaskan Native at 1.81%, where previously these groups were not represented or data was suppressed for privacy.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 69.15% | 50.9% | -26.39% |
| Hispanic | 8.96% | 34.11% | 280.69% |
| White | 6.47% | 6.2% | -4.17% |
| Black | 0% | 4.13% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 11.94% | 2.84% | -76.21% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1.81% | 0% |