Homem last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Homem

A Portuguese surname meaning "man" or "human being".

Homem, 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 Homem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Homem in America

Homem is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Homem surname appeared 101 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Homem.

The history of the last name Homem

The surname "HOMEM" is of Portuguese origin, and it dates back to the medieval period in the country's history. The name is derived from the Portuguese word "homem," which translates to "man" in English. It was likely used as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who were considered particularly manly or masculine in their appearance or behavior.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "HOMEM" can be found in the "Livro Velho" (Old Book), a 14th-century manuscript that contains records of land grants and property transactions in the region of Entre-Douro-e-Minho, in northern Portugal. This document mentions individuals with the surname "HOMEM," suggesting that the name was already in use by that time.

During the 15th century, the surname "HOMEM" appeared in various historical records from different parts of Portugal. For instance, there are references to a prominent figure named João Homem, who lived in the city of Évora and served as a judge and royal official during the reign of King Afonso V (1438-1481).

In the 16th century, the surname "HOMEM" gained further prominence with the explorer and navigator Pero Homem. Born in the town of Viana do Castelo around 1495, Pero Homem was a cartographer and one of the first Europeans to map the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. His maps and navigational charts played a significant role in the exploration of the North Atlantic region.

Another notable figure bearing the surname "HOMEM" was António Homem, a 17th-century Portuguese poet and writer from the city of Lisbon. Born in 1623, António Homem was known for his religious poetry and was considered one of the most prominent Baroque poets of his time.

In the 18th century, the surname "HOMEM" was associated with the noble family of Homem de Brederode, who traced their lineage back to the 13th century. This family held significant land holdings and political influence in the region of Alentejo, in southern Portugal.

Throughout history, the surname "HOMEM" has been found in various regions of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira Islands, where it was carried by settlers and explorers during the Portuguese Age of Discovery. While the name was initially more concentrated in certain areas, it has since spread to other parts of the country and beyond due to migration and intermarriage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Homem

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

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 Homem was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.08% 93
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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"Homem last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 31, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/homem-surname-popularity/.

"Homem last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/homem-surname-popularity/. Accessed 31 May, 2025

Homem last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/homem-surname-popularity/.

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