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

Elim, 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 Elim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elim in America

Elim is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elim surname appeared 102 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Elim.

The history of the last name Elim

The surname ELIM has its origins in the ancient Hebrew language, derived from the word "Elim" which means "trees" or "groves of trees." This name is believed to have emerged in the region known as the Levant, encompassing modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Syria. Its earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the biblical era, where the name is mentioned in the Book of Exodus as a place where the Israelites camped during their exodus from Egypt.

The name ELIM is thought to have been adopted as a surname by Jewish families living in the Levant during the Middle Ages. It may have been used to identify individuals who lived near or worked in groves of trees or had a particular affinity with nature. Some scholars also suggest that the name could have been associated with certain professions related to forestry or woodworking.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname ELIM is Rabbi Solomon ben Elim, a prominent scholar and Talmudic authority who lived in the 12th century. He authored several influential works on Jewish law and philosophy, and his teachings were widely respected throughout the Jewish communities of the time.

Another notable figure bearing the ELIM surname was Judah ben Elim, a Jewish philosopher and poet who lived in the 13th century. He is best known for his work "Sefer Sha'ar ha-Shamayim" (The Book of the Gate of Heaven), which explored mystical and metaphysical concepts.

In the 16th century, records show a family named Elim residing in the city of Safed, a center of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah study. This family produced several respected rabbis and scholars, including Moses Elim, who authored works on Jewish law and ethics.

During the 18th century, a notable figure named Isaac Elim gained recognition as a skilled calligrapher and scribe in the city of Jerusalem. His beautifully handwritten Torah scrolls and other religious texts were highly sought after by Jewish communities throughout the region.

As Jews began to migrate to other parts of the world, the surname ELIM spread to various countries, often undergoing slight variations in spelling or pronunciation. In the 19th century, records show individuals with the name Elim residing in communities across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

While the surname ELIM is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of Jewish surnames, carrying within it echoes of ancient Hebrew origins, biblical references, and a deep connection to the natural world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elim

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

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 Elim 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.

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 Elim was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!