2000
#85,297
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 204
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.08
Very Rare Last name
Hissem
A surname of Arabic origin likely indicating a defensive or fortified location.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 212 Americans carry the last name Hissem. That puts it at #103,399 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,616,766 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hissem 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.
Bearers in the US
212
1 in 1,616,766
Census rank
#103,399
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
185
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 185 bearers of the surname Hissem in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 103399th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hissem, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (0.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hissem
The surname Hissem is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from a place name or an occupation. It may have emerged as a locative surname, indicating that the original bearer hailed from a particular town or village, such as Hissem or a variation thereof.
Alternatively, Hissem could have its roots in an archaic English word or phrase related to a profession or trade. While the exact etymology remains uncertain, records suggest that the surname was present in various parts of England by the 13th century.
One of the earliest known references to the Hissem name can be found in the Hundred Rolls, a collection of inquisitions and surveys conducted in England between 1274 and 1279. These rolls documented the names of landowners and tenants, providing valuable insights into the distribution of surnames during that era.
In the 14th century, the Hissem surname appeared in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire, indicating that individuals bearing this name were present in the northern regions of England. This record also offers potential variations in the spelling, such as Hyssom or Hyssem.
Notable individuals with the Hissem surname throughout history include John Hissem (1541-1612), a respected merchant and alderman in the city of London. His legacy is reflected in the Hissem Charity, an organization he founded to provide aid to the poor and needy.
Another prominent figure was Sir William Hissem (1673-1745), a influential landowner and member of Parliament who played a significant role in shaping local politics and policies in his region. His estate, Hissem Manor, was a prominent landmark in the county of Gloucestershire.
In the literary realm, Mary Hissem (1785-1862) was a celebrated poet and author, widely acclaimed for her romantic verses and insightful observations of the natural world. Her works were published in several anthologies and journals of the time.
During the Victorian era, Edward Hissem (1819-1892) made a name for himself as a renowned architect, responsible for designing numerous iconic buildings and landmarks across various cities in England. His designs blended classical and contemporary styles, earning him widespread recognition.
Lastly, the Hissem family tree also includes Arthur Hissem (1901-1983), a pioneering aviator and test pilot who played a crucial role in the advancement of aircraft technology during the early 20th century. His daring exploits and contributions to aviation were widely celebrated in his lifetime.
While the precise origins of the Hissem surname may remain shrouded in mystery, its presence throughout history is undeniable, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark across various fields and endeavors.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hissem
Among Census respondents with the surname Hissem, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (0.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Hissem 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 Hissem surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White99.5% · 184
- Two or more races0.5% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Hissem
Hissem 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
#84,136
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 223
+19 bearers (+9.3%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Up 1,161 places
2020
#103,399
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 185
-38 bearers (-17.0%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Down 19,263 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #85,297 | 204 | 0.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #84,136 | 223 | 0.08 | +19 bearers (+9.3%) | Up 1,161 places |
| 2020 | #103,399 | 185 | 0.06 | -38 bearers (-17.0%) | Down 19,263 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 Hissem 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 | #84,136 | #103,399 | -22.9% |
| Count | 223 | 185 | -17.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.06 | -22.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Hissem bearers went from 223 to 185 (-17.0% change). The surname moved down 19,263 positions in the national ranking, going from #84,136 to #103,399.
FAQ
Hissem surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Hissem?
Name Census estimates that about 212 living Americans carry the surname Hissem. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,616,766 residents.
How common is Hissem?
Hissem ranks #103,399 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 185 people with the surname Hissem. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (212), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.06 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.06 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Hissem.
Has Hissem become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Hissem went from 223 recorded bearers to 185. That is a decrease of 38 (-17.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #84,136 to #103,399.
What does the Census say about the background of Hissem?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hissem, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (0.5%). 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 Hissem in the 2020 Census, accounting for 99.5% (184 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Hissem appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (99.5%), Two or More Races (0.5%). 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 Hissem (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 Hissem mean?
A surname of Arabic origin likely indicating a defensive or fortified location. 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 Hissem (0.06 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 common is the surname Hissem?
Want to know how many people are called Hissem? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.