2000
#8,131
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,755
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.39
Rare Last name
Hames
Derived from a medieval nickname for a scarred or maimed person, from Middle English "maimed" or Old French "eshamez."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,192 Americans carry the last name Hames. That puts it at #8,622 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 81,764 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hames surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Hames with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
4.2K
1 in 81,764
Census rank
#8,622
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,656 bearers of the surname Hames in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8622nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hames, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.5%. The next largest groups are Black (9.7%) and Two or More Races (5.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hames
The surname Hames has its origins in England, where it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be a variant of the Old English word "hame," which referred to a piece of horse harness or a type of collar used for draft animals.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hames can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1221, where a person named Richard Hames is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use and had likely been established in certain parts of England by that time.
During the Middle Ages, surnames derived from occupations were quite common, and it is possible that the Hames surname was originally borne by individuals involved in the trade or crafting of horse harnesses or related equipment. Alternatively, it could have been a descriptive name given to someone who worked with horses or was associated with the care and handling of these animals.
The Hames surname is also closely linked to several place names in England, such as Hammes in Gloucestershire and Hames in Wiltshire. These locations may have played a role in the formation and spread of the surname, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on the places they were from or associated with.
One notable bearer of the Hames surname was William Hames, a prominent merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers in the 16th century. He was born in London around 1520 and played a significant role in the city's trade and commerce during his lifetime.
Another historical figure with the Hames surname was John Hames, a Puritan minister who lived in the 17th century. He was born in Gloucestershire in 1615 and served as a clergyman in various parishes throughout his career, becoming known for his strong religious beliefs and teachings.
In the 18th century, William Hames (1707-1785) was a notable English engraver and printmaker, known for his intricate and detailed works. His engravings were highly regarded and can be found in various collections and museums around the world.
Moving into the 19th century, Samuel Hames (1812-1887) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Waterloo and the former City of London School.
Lastly, in the early 20th century, Herbert Hames (1884-1965) was a British politician and member of the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies and held various positions within the party, contributing to the shaping of political discourse and policies during his career.
Overall, the surname Hames has a rich history deeply rooted in England's past, with connections to various occupations, places, and notable individuals who have contributed to various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hames
Among Census respondents with the surname Hames, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.5%. The next largest groups are Black (9.7%) and Two or More Races (5.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Hames bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hames surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.5% · 2,906
- Black or African American9.7% · 353
- Two or more races5.2% · 191
- Hispanic or Latino3.8% · 138
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.3% · 49
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5% · 19
Timeline
Historical Census data for Hames
Hames appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#9,003
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,633
-122 bearers (-3.2%)
Per 100,000 1.23
Rank movement Down 872 places
2020
#8,622
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,656
+23 bearers (+0.6%)
Per 100,000 1.22
Rank movement Up 381 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #8,131 | 3,755 | 1.39 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #9,003 | 3,633 | 1.23 | -122 bearers (-3.2%) | Down 872 places |
| 2020 | #8,622 | 3,656 | 1.22 | +23 bearers (+0.6%) | Up 381 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Hames surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,003 | #8,622 | 4.2% |
| Count | 3,633 | 3,656 | 0.6% |
| Per 100K | 1.23 | 1.22 | -0.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Hames bearers went from 3,633 to 3,656 (+0.6% change). The surname moved up 381 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,003 to #8,622.
FAQ
Hames surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Hames?
Name Census estimates that about 4,192 living Americans carry the surname Hames. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 81,764 residents.
How common is Hames?
Hames ranks #8,622 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.22 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,656 people with the surname Hames. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (4,192), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.22 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.22 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Hames.
Has Hames become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Hames went from 3,633 recorded bearers to 3,656. That is an increase of 23 (+0.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #9,003 to #8,622.
What does the Census say about the background of Hames?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hames, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.5%. The next largest groups are Black (9.7%) and Two or More Races (5.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Hames in the 2020 Census, accounting for 79.5% (2,906 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Hames appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (79.5%), Black (9.7%), Two or More Races (5.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Hames (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Hames mean?
Derived from a medieval nickname for a scarred or maimed person, from Middle English "maimed" or Old French "eshamez." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Hames (1.22 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Hames?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.