Explore the Family Name High
The meaning of High
English: 1. nickname for a tall man, from Middle English heigh, hey, high ‘high, tall’ (Old English hēah). Compare Hay 3. 2. topographic name for someone who lived ‘(on the) height or hill’, from Middle English heigh ‘height, hilltop’ (Old English hēah). Compare Hight.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name High in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "High" has seen a slight shift over a decade. In 2000, this surname was ranked 2500th in terms of prevalence, but it dropped to 2585th place by 2010, marking a decrease of -3.4 percent in its ranking. Despite this decline in rank, the actual count of people with the surname "High" increased from 13,236 in 2000 to 13,961 in 2010, a rise of 5.48 percent. However, when considered in proportion to the total population (per 100,000 individuals), there was a slight decrease of -3.67 percent over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,500 | #2,585 | -3.4% |
| Count | 13,236 | 13,961 | 5.48% |
| Proportion per 100k | 4.91 | 4.73 | -3.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name High
The ethnic identity associated with the surname "High" also underwent changes between 2000 and 2010, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage of individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaskan Native decreased by -6.58 percent and -17.81 percent respectively. The White and Black populations saw minor reductions of -1.68 percent and -1.00 percent respectively. However, there was a noticeable increase in the number of people with the surname "High" identifying as Hispanic, a jump of 67.86 percent. Similarly, the group identifying with two or more races grew by 43.42 percent over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 71.52% | 70.32% | -1.68% |
| Black | 24.08% | 23.84% | -1% |
| Hispanic | 1.4% | 2.35% | 67.86% |
| Two or More Races | 1.52% | 2.18% | 43.42% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.76% | 0.71% | -6.58% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.73% | 0.6% | -17.81% |
High ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname High is British & Irish, which comprises 47.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (31.1%) and Eastern European (3.9%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Italian, and Ashkenazi Jewish.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 47.2% |
| French & German | 31.1% |
| Eastern European | 3.9% |
| Other | 17.8% |
Possible origins of the surname High
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name High have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 83.60% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 83.60% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 83.20% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 82.80% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 82.50% |
What High haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname High is R-L2, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L2 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-CTS6433 and R-Z156, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Foss, Langley, Langford, Carver, Hudson, Kuhn, Craig, Stump, Robert, Meier.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with High surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname High have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"High" Surname 42.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"High" Surname 26.3%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"High" Surname 22.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"High" Surname 21.1%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name High?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname High are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition