Odom
An English surname most often treated as a place-based name, likely from a lost or reduced place-name, though its exact source is uncertain.
The #996 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,816 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Odom is generally taken as an English surname formed from a place-name, but the precise place behind it is not securely identified. It may reflect a reduced or altered form of an older local name, rather than a transparent modern English word. Because the original place form is unclear, the surname’s literal meaning is uncertain.
History
The surname is best known today in the United States, especially in the South, where it has been established for generations. Its spelling has remained fairly stable, though historical records may show minor variation. Because the name is probably locational and possibly from a now-lost or obscure place-name, its early trail is difficult to trace confidently.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Odom is one of those surnames that looks simple but hides a lost or hard-to-identify place-name origin.