Explore the Family Name Hem
The meaning of Hem
1. Cambodian: written ហែម, corresponding to the Khmer word of Sanskrit origin, meaning ‘gold’. 2. Norwegian: habitational name from a farm name found in six places, probably a compound of Old Norse hár ‘high’ and heimr ‘farmstead’, denoting a high-lying farm. Some characteristic forenames: Cambodian Sophany, Vuthy, Chham, Chhem, Hoeun, Somaly, Sovann, Ly, Nhong, Phan, Phon, Chea, Hong, Ong, Soeun, Sun, Sarath, Sareth.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Hem in the United States?
The surname Hem has seen a rise in popularity based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, Hem was ranked 27,496th most popular surname and by 2010, it had climbed up to the 24,499th position - an increase of nearly 11%. The count of individuals with this last name also increased significantly during this period, from 825 people in 2000 to 1021 people in 2010, marking an upward shift of almost 24%. As a proportion per 100,000 people, the prevalence of Hem grew by approximately 13%, rising from 0.31 to 0.35.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,496 | #24,499 | 10.9% |
| Count | 825 | 1,021 | 23.76% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.31 | 0.35 | 12.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Hem
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Hem also evolved between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The Asian/Pacific Islander representation within the Hem surname rose by about 10%, from 70.3% to 77.08%. Conversely, those identifying as two or more races saw a significant decrease of over 53%, falling from 6.91% to 3.23%. The percentage of those identified as White also declined, dropping by nearly 18% from 21.21% to 17.43%. Hispanics with the Hem surname increased by a substantial 77.05%, albeit from a small base of 0.61% to 1.08%. There were no recorded instances of individuals identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native with this surname in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 70.3% | 77.08% | 9.64% |
| White | 21.21% | 17.43% | -17.82% |
| Two or More Races | 6.91% | 3.23% | -53.26% |
| Hispanic | 0.61% | 1.08% | 77.05% |
| Black | 0.97% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |