Find out how popular the last name Behm is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Behm.

Behm, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Behm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Behm in America

Behm is the 7443rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Behm surname appeared 4,476 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Behm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Behm to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Behm

The surname BEHM has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Germany, particularly in areas such as Pomerania and Mecklenburg.

One theory suggests that BEHM is derived from the Old Germanic word "bahm," which means "tree" or "wood." This could indicate that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a wooded area or worked as a forester or woodcutter.

Another possibility is that BEHM is a topographical name, referring to someone who lived near a specific landmark or geographic feature. In this case, it may have derived from the Old German word "bām," meaning "beam" or "tree trunk," suggesting a connection to a prominent tree or wooden structure.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname BEHM date back to the 13th century. One notable example is Heinrich BEHM, a merchant from the city of Lübeck who was mentioned in records from the year 1278.

In the 15th century, the name BEHM appeared in several historical documents, including the Bürgerregister (citizen register) of the city of Rostock from 1419, where a certain Hinrik BEHM was listed as a citizen.

During the 16th century, the BEHM family gained prominence in the city of Stralsund, where they were involved in maritime trade and held influential positions. One notable figure was Johann BEHM (1515-1588), a merchant and city councilor who played an important role in the city's economic and political affairs.

Another notable individual was Martin BEHM (1557-1622), a German mathematician and cartographer who is best known for his work on the Cosmographia, a collection of maps and geographical descriptions published in 1592.

In the 17th century, the BEHM name was found in various regions of Germany, including Saxony and Brandenburg. One prominent figure was Samuel BEHM (1638-1693), a German jurist and legal scholar who served as a professor of law at the University of Leipzig.

In the 18th century, Johann Georg BEHM (1721-1803) was a German composer and organist who worked in the court of the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and made significant contributions to church music.

Throughout history, the surname BEHM has been associated with various professions, including merchants, scholars, artists, and craftsmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Behm

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Behm.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Behm was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Behm has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Behm was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Behm, please contact us.

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