UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English word "hum" meaning a river meadow or low-lying land.
In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Hum surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #21,091 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Melksham, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Bentley, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hum is 144 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.0%.
1881 census count
89
Ranked #21,091
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1851
144 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hum surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hum surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 144 | #13,277 |
| 1881 | historical | 89 | #21,091 |
| 1891 | historical | 5 | #33,939 |
| 1901 | historical | 125 | #20,061 |
| 1997 | modern | 38 | #33,872 |
| 1998 | modern | 40 | #33,856 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 44 | #33,602 |
| 2001 | modern | 36 | #34,171 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 28 | #35,200 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 38 | #35,514 |
| 2011 | modern | 36 | #35,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 40 | #35,439 |
| 2014 | modern | 48 | #35,041 |
| 2015 | modern | 49 | #34,946 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Melksham, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Bentley, Great, Wickham St Paul and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melksham | Wiltshire |
| 2 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| 3 | Bentley, Great | Essex |
| 4 | Wickham St Paul | Suffolk |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hum surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hum, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hum surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hum household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hum is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hum is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hum, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hum is believed to have originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "hummel," which means "bumblebee." This could suggest that the name may have been an occupational surname for a beekeeper or someone who worked with bees.
In the earliest known records, the name was often spelled as "Humm" or "Hummell." One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Hans Humm, a farmer from the village of Oberndorf in Bavaria, who was born around 1510.
The name Hum can also be found in some historical records from the 17th century. For instance, in the parish records of St. Martin's Church in Bamberg, Germany, there is a record of a Johann Hum, who was born in 1623.
As the name spread throughout Germany and neighboring regions, it took on various spellings and forms, such as "Hümm," "Hümmel," and "Hümmelchen." These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and linguistic influences.
One notable individual with the surname Hum was Johann Baptist Hum, a German composer and organist who lived from 1769 to 1839. He was born in Grossaitingen, Bavaria, and is known for his contributions to church music.
Another historical figure with this surname was Gottlieb Hum, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1796 to 1879. He taught at the University of Jena and wrote several works on philosophy and religion.
In the 19th century, the name Hum can be found in records from various parts of Germany, as well as in neighboring countries like Austria and Switzerland. For example, there was a Johann Hum, born in 1842 in Bregenz, Austria, who worked as a blacksmith.
One notable individual from this period was Karl Hum, a German artist and painter who lived from 1850 to 1920. He was known for his landscapes and genre scenes depicting rural life in Bavaria.
As the name spread further afield, it also found its way to other parts of Europe and eventually to other continents through migration. For instance, there are records of individuals with the surname Hum in the United States and Canada from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, likely descendants of German immigrants.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hum surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 28 Hums recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 28 | 3.54x |
| Essex | 11 | 7.05x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 1.28x |
| Kent | 6 | 2.23x |
| Suffolk | 6 | 6.24x |
| Renfrewshire | 4 | 6.53x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 2.84x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.78x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 4.00x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.00x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 2.86x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.12x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.73x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.05x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 12 Hums recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.09x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hackney London | 12 | 27.09x |
| Colchester St Peter | 7 | 1129.03x |
| Keighley | 6 | 71.94x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 6 | 35.69x |
| Shoreditch London | 6 | 17.52x |
| Maidstone | 5 | 62.27x |
| Nayland | 5 | 2083.33x |
| Cathcart | 4 | 120.85x |
| Stokesley | 4 | 816.33x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 3 | 7.05x |
| Colchester St Giles | 2 | 129.87x |
| Fisherton Anger | 2 | 155.04x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 2 | 34.97x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 3.15x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.82x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 4.25x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.51x |
| Brighton | 1 | 3.72x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.98x |
| Finchley | 1 | 33.00x |
| Great Horkesley | 1 | 476.19x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.31x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.45x |
| Lansallos | 1 | 526.32x |
| Lavenham | 1 | 200.00x |
| Littlemore | 1 | 769.23x |
| Peterstone Super | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Sittingbourne | 1 | 46.95x |
| Widdington | 1 | 1000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hum surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hum surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Hum surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Hum a modern rank of #34,511.
A surname derived from the Old English word "hum" meaning a river meadow or low-lying land.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hum bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.