History of your Surname
Get access to Hem family records.Start a free trial

Hem Family History

Hem Name Meaning

Cambodian: written ហែម corresponding to the Khmer word of Sanskrit origin meaning ‘gold’. 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.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Hum, Lem, Sem, Her, Hom, Hemp, Hamp, Che, Hau, Chee

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Hem family from?

You can see how Hem families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hem family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hem families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 8 Hem families living in British Columbia. This was about 33% of all the recorded Hem's in Canada. British Columbia and 1 other province had the highest population of Hem families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hem surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Hem ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Hem. 34% of Hem men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Hem women worked as a Maid. .

View Census Data for Hem | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    34%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Salesman
    20%
  • Proprietor
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    100%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Hem family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Hem. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hem census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Hem

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Hem. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Hem immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Hem. For the veterans among your Hem ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hem military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hem family history

Discover More

What is the average Hem lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Hem life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Hem in 1962 was 102, and 88 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hem

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Hem family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Hem last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial