This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Hei family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Hei Family History

Hei Surname Meaning

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 黑 meaning ‘black’ in Chinese: (i) from the personal name Hei Gong (黑肱) personal name of a son of King Gong of Chu (ruler of the state of Chu 600 BC–560 BC). (ii) said to be borne by the descendants of Song Weizi founder of the state of Song (established in around 11th century BC). (iii) adopted as a surname by different minority ethnic groups in China. Also pronounced as He in some local dialects.

Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 郗 see Xi.

Chinese: possibly from Cantonese form of some Chinese names 喜 希 羲 熙 曦 熹 or 晞 which were monosyllabic personal names or part of disyllabic personal names of some early Chinese immigrants in the US.

German: variant of Hey. This surname is very rare in Germany.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Hei family from?

You can see how Hei families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hei family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Hei families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 2 Hei families living in British Columbia. This was 100% of all the recorded Hei's in Canada. British Columbia had the highest population of Hei families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hei surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Hei ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Hei. 35% of Hei men worked as a Farmer and 100% of Hei women worked as a Maid.

View Census Data for Hei | 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
    35%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Labor
    15%
  • Farm Laborer
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    100%

What Hei family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Hei. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hei census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Hei

Passenger Lists

There are 574 immigration records available for the last name Hei. 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 Hei immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Hei. For the veterans among your Hei ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hei military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hei family history

Discover More

What is the average Hei lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Hei life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Hei in 1966 was 66, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hei

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Hei ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Hei family tree

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