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

Khem, 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 Khem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Khem in America

Khem is the 53667th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Khem surname appeared 385 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 Khem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Khem 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 Khem

The surname KHEM is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, where it was likely derived from the word "khem," which means "black" or "dark" in the ancient Egyptian language. This name is thought to have been used to identify individuals with darker skin tones or those who hailed from the southern regions of Egypt, where the Nile River flowed.

The earliest known references to the name KHEM can be traced back to hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyrus scrolls from the Old Kingdom period of ancient Egypt, which spanned from around 2686 BCE to 2181 BCE. During this time, the name was often associated with individuals who held positions of power or influence within the Egyptian society.

One notable example of an individual bearing the name KHEM is Khemuhotep, a high-ranking official who lived during the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, around 2500 BCE. Khemuhotep was a governor of the region known as the "Hare Nome" and was responsible for overseeing the construction of several significant monuments, including his own elaborate mastaba tomb.

As the centuries passed, the name KHEM continued to be used throughout various periods of Egyptian history, with variations in spelling and pronunciation emerging over time. In the Middle Kingdom period (2055 BCE – 1650 BCE), the name was sometimes spelled as "Khemi" or "Kheme," while during the New Kingdom era (1550 BCE – 1070 BCE), it was often rendered as "Khemet" or "Khemetu."

Beyond the borders of ancient Egypt, the name KHEM also found its way into other cultures and regions through trade, migration, and cultural exchange. In ancient Greece, for instance, the name was adapted and became "Chemi," which was used to refer to the land of Egypt itself, as well as its inhabitants.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname KHEM, including:

1. Khem Vase, an ancient Egyptian artisan known for his exceptional craftsmanship in creating intricate pottery and faience vessels during the 18th Dynasty (circa 1550 BCE – 1292 BCE).

2. Khem Amen, a high-ranking priest and scribe who served in the temple of Amun-Ra at Thebes during the reign of Ramesses II (1279 BCE – 1213 BCE).

3. Khem Nefer, a skilled architect and engineer who oversaw the construction of several monumental structures, including the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, during the 18th Dynasty (circa 1550 BCE – 1292 BCE).

4. Khem Ankh, a renowned physician and scholar who authored numerous papyri on medical practices and herbal remedies during the 26th Dynasty (664 BCE – 525 BCE).

5. Khem Duat, a high-ranking military commander who led Egyptian forces against the Persians during the 27th Dynasty (525 BCE – 404 BCE), earning him recognition for his bravery and strategic prowess.

While the surname KHEM has its roots in ancient Egypt, it has since been adopted and adapted by various cultures and communities around the world, reflecting the enduring influence and legacy of this ancient civilization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Khem

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

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

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

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