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

Shim, 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 Shim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shim in America

Shim is the 6801st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shim surname appeared 4,958 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Shim.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shim 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 Shim

The surname Shim has its origins in the Korean peninsula, dating back to the 14th century during the Goryeo dynasty. It is believed to be derived from the Korean word "sim," which means "heart" or "mind." The name may have been given to individuals who were known for their wisdom, kindness, or introspective nature.

In the early 15th century, the Shim surname appeared in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, a historical record that documented the lives of prominent figures and events during that era. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was Shim Sang-gi, a scholar and government official who lived from 1424 to 1493.

As the Shim surname spread throughout the Korean peninsula, regional variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. In some areas, the name was written as "Sim," while in others, it was spelled "Sheem" or "Shym." These variations were often reflective of local dialects and linguistic quirks.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), the Shim family produced several notable figures. Shim Hyo-won (1541-1608) was a renowned Confucian scholar and calligrapher, while Shim Sang-hun (1566-1628) was a respected military leader who played a crucial role in defending the kingdom against Japanese invasions.

In the 18th century, Shim Bong-won (1735-1802) was a prominent philosopher and writer who contributed to the development of Korean Neo-Confucianism. His works, such as "Yeohun Jeongseo" (Essentials of Righteous Governance), were widely studied and influenced generations of scholars and statesmen.

Another notable figure was Shim Hoon (1828-1897), a pioneering educator and advocate for modern education in Korea. He established the country's first modern school, Baekungwon, and played a pivotal role in introducing Western learning and ideas to the Korean society.

As the Shim surname spread beyond the Korean peninsula, it has been adopted by individuals of various ethnic backgrounds, particularly in regions with strong historical ties to Korea, such as China, Japan, and parts of Southeast Asia. While the exact origins and meanings may vary, the surname continues to hold a rich cultural heritage and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shim

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

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

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

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