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

Heim, 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 Heim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heim in America

Heim is the 2513th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heim surname appeared 14,414 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Heim.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heim 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 Heim

The surname HEIM is of German origin, derived from the Old High German word "heim," meaning "home" or "homestead." It initially emerged as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who lived near a prominent village or homestead.

The earliest recorded instances of the HEIM surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Westphalia. It was often associated with specific place names, such as Heimbach, Heimhofen, or Heimerdingen, indicating the bearer's connection to a particular location.

During the Middle Ages, the HEIM surname appeared in various ecclesiastical and legal documents, such as parish records and court proceedings. Notable individuals bearing this surname from that period include Johannes Heim, a renowned scholar and theologian from the 15th century, and Konrad Heim, a prominent merchant and landowner in Nuremberg in the 16th century.

As the surname spread across German-speaking territories, it underwent various spelling variations, including Heym, Haim, and Haimb. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the scribes' interpretations of the name.

In the 17th century, the HEIM surname gained prominence in the field of philosophy and science. Johann Ludwig Heim (1640-1718), a German philosopher and mathematician, made significant contributions to the development of calculus and the study of probability theory.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the continued spread of the HEIM surname across Europe and beyond, as German immigrants sought new opportunities in other parts of the world. One notable figure from this period was Arnold Heym (1786-1856), a German-American artist and engraver who contributed to the development of lithography in the United States.

Other historical figures bearing the HEIM surname include Karl Heim (1874-1958), a Swiss theologian and philosopher known for his work on the relationship between Christianity and modern thought, and Ernst Heim (1888-1967), a Swiss geologist and mountaineer who made significant contributions to the study of alpine geology and glaciology.

Throughout its history, the HEIM surname has been associated with various professions, from scholars and artisans to merchants and landowners, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heim

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

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

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

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