Hemmings
A habitational surname derived from any of several places in England named Hemming.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,817 Americans carry the last name Hemmings. That puts it at #17,851 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.53 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 188,638 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hemmings surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
1.8K
1 in 188,638
Census rank
#17,851
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,567 bearers of the surname Hemmings in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.53 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 17851st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hemmings, the largest self-reported group is White at 52.4%. The next largest groups are Black (41.2%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hemmings
The surname Hemmings is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'hæming', which means 'dweller at the homestead'. The name was commonly found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Shropshire.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hemmings can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1198, where a certain Richard Hemmings is mentioned. The surname is also recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Worcestershire from 1273, which lists a William Hemmynges.
In the 14th century, the surname Hemmings appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Hemmynges is listed. The name is also found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1380, which mentions a Thomas Hemmynges.
During the 16th century, the surname Hemmings was associated with several notable individuals. One of them was John Hemmings, a prominent merchant and alderman of Bristol, who lived from around 1510 to 1570. Another notable figure was William Hemmings, a poet and playwright born in Gloucestershire in 1550, who is known for his work "The Jew's Tragedy".
In the 17th century, the Hemmings surname continued to be prominent. One notable individual was John Hemmings, a British author and clergyman born in 1636, who wrote several religious works. Another was William Hemmings, a successful merchant and landowner from Worcestershire, who lived from 1620 to 1695.
In the 18th century, the name Hemmings was associated with several places in England, including Hemmings Farm in Gloucestershire and Hemmings Hill in Worcestershire. Additionally, a notable figure from this period was Richard Hemmings, a British explorer and adventurer born in 1730, who is known for his travels in Africa and the Middle East.
Throughout the 19th century, the Hemmings surname remained widespread in England, with several notable individuals bearing the name. These include Charles Hemmings, a British artist and engraver born in 1809, and James Hemmings, a prominent lawyer and judge from Worcestershire, who lived from 1820 to 1892.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hemmings
Among Census respondents with the surname Hemmings, the largest self-reported group is White at 52.4%. The next largest groups are Black (41.2%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Hemmings bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Hemmings surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White52.4%
- Black or African American41.2%
- Hispanic or Latino4.5%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Unknown or suppressed0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hemmings surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,216 | #17,851 | 2.0% |
| Count | 1,408 | 1,567 | 11.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.52 | 0.53 | 1.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Hemmings bearers went from 1,408 to 1,567 (+11.3% change). The surname moved up 365 positions in the national ranking, going from #18,216 to #17,851.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hemmings
FAQ
Hemmings surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hemmings?
The surname Hemmings holds position #17,851 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,817 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.53 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hemmings surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hemmings, the largest self-reported group is White at 52.4%. The next largest groups are Black (41.2%) and Hispanic (4.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.