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

Hermes, 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 Hermes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hermes in America

Hermes is the 7545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hermes surname appeared 4,407 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Hermes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hermes 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 Hermes

The surname Hermes is of Greek origin, derived from the name of the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the gods and the patron of travelers, merchants, and orators. The name Hermes is believed to have originated from the Greek word "herma," which means a square or rectangular pillar with a carved head of Hermes on top.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Hermes can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was likely adopted by individuals who were involved in trade, commerce, or communication. The name was later spread across Europe and other parts of the world through Greek migration and cultural influence.

One of the earliest known historical references to the surname Hermes can be found in ancient Greek literature, such as the works of Homer and Hesiod, where the god Hermes is prominently featured. In later centuries, the name appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, although specific examples are scarce.

One notable individual with the surname Hermes was Trismegistus Hermes, also known as Hermes Trismegistus, who was a legendary figure in ancient Greek and Hellenistic wisdom traditions. He was believed to be the author of the Hermetic Corpus, a collection of philosophical and religious texts that influenced Western esoteric traditions.

Another historical figure with the surname Hermes was Juan Hermes (c. 1480-1521), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés. He is known for his role in the Battle of Centla, where he fought against the forces of the Maya civilization.

In the 17th century, the surname Hermes was also associated with the German philosopher and writer Johann Hermes (1598-1662), who was known for his works on logic and philosophy of language. His ideas influenced the development of philosophical thought in Germany during the Enlightenment period.

Closer to modern times, the surname Hermes gained prominence in the fashion industry through the French fashion house Hermès, founded by Thierry Hermes (1801-1878) in 1837. The company is renowned for its luxury goods, including leather goods, accessories, and perfumes, and has become a symbol of French elegance and craftsmanship.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Georges Hermes (1856-1936), a French engineer and industrialist who contributed significantly to the development of the automobile industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the founder of the Société des Usines Hermes, a company that manufactured high-quality gears and transmissions for automobiles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hermes

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

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

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

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