Explore the Family Name Heifetz
The meaning of Heifetz
Jewish (from Belarus and Lithuania): nickname from Yiddish kheyfets (Hebrew ḥefets) ‘desire, wish’; or from an archaic personal name of the same etymology. History: This is one of the old Ashkenazic surnames. In Eastern Europe, it was used by rabbinical families well before the mass adoption of surnames by local Jews at the turn of the 19th century. Most likely, it is the same Ashkenazic family as the one known in northern Italy since the end of the 15th century as Ḥefets in Hebrew sources and Gentile in Christian sources (see Gentile 3). Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Eliezer, Gilad, Chayim.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Heifetz in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Heifetz saw a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Heifetz was ranked 60,230 in terms of popularity, but by 2010 it had climbed to a rank of 59,470 - an increase of 1.26 percent. The count of individuals with this surname also increased during that period, with 313 people bearing the name in 2000 and 340 in 2010; an increase of 8.63 percent. Despite these changes, the proportion of Heifetzs per 100,000 people remained constant at 0.12.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #60,230 | #59,470 | 1.26% |
| Count | 313 | 340 | 8.63% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Heifetz
In relation to ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the vast majority of individuals with the surname Heifetz identify as White - 97.12 percent in 2000 and 97.35 percent in 2010, marking a slight increase of 0.24 percent over the decade. Meanwhile, there was a notable increase in the proportion of Heifetzs who identify as Hispanic, from 1.60 percent in 2000 to 2.06 percent in 2010, an increase of 28.75 percent. There were no recorded instances of individuals with this surname identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.12% | 97.35% | 0.24% |
| Hispanic | 1.6% | 2.06% | 28.75% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |