Hyams
A surname of Anglo-Jewish origin, derived from the Hebrew male name "Chaim" meaning "life".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 994 Americans carry the last name Hyams. That puts it at #27,974 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.29 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 344,823 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hyams 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
994
1 in 344,823
Census rank
#27,974
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
857
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 857 bearers of the surname Hyams in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.29 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 27974th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hyams, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Black (4.7%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hyams
The surname Hyams has its origins in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is an anglicized variation of the Old French surname Hiam, which itself derived from the personal name Haimon or Hamon. These names stem from the Germanic elements "haim" meaning "home" and "mund" meaning "protection."
The earliest recorded instances of the Hyams surname appear in various medieval records from the 13th and 14th centuries. It was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall in southwestern England. The name may have originated from place names like Ham or Hame in these regions, which were derived from the Old English word "hamm" meaning "enclosure" or "homestead."
One notable historical reference to the Hyams name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327, which mention a John Hiam. Additionally, the Plea Rolls of the Exchequer from 1384 record a Richard Hyam in Devon.
In the 16th century, the Hyams surname appeared in various spellings, including Hyam, Hiam, Hiams, and Hymes, reflecting the inconsistencies in English orthography during that time period.
Notable individuals bearing the Hyams surname throughout history include:
1. William Hyams (c. 1602-1677), an English merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Horsham in 1660.
2. Samuel Hyams (1734-1808), a prominent English clockmaker and watchmaker based in London.
3. Thomas Hyams (1776-1853), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes in Sussex.
4. Edward Hyams (1834-1912), a British journalist and author who wrote extensively about the British Empire and colonial affairs.
5. Ralph Hyams (1888-1961), an American screenwriter and film producer who worked on several notable films in the 1930s and 1940s, including "The Lady Eve" and "The Palm Beach Story."
While the Hyams surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to its Old French and Germanic linguistic roots.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hyams
Among Census respondents with the surname Hyams, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Black (4.7%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Hyams 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 Hyams surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.7%
- Black or African American4.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Unknown or suppressed1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hyams 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 | #27,669 | #27,974 | -1.1% |
| Count | 819 | 857 | 4.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.30 | 0.29 | -3.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Hyams bearers went from 819 to 857 (+4.6% change). The surname moved down 305 positions in the national ranking, going from #27,669 to #27,974.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hyams
FAQ
Hyams surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hyams?
The surname Hyams holds position #27,974 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 994 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.29 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hyams surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hyams, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Black (4.7%) and Hispanic (1.9%). 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.