Surname Himml - Meaning and Origin
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Himml: What does the surname Himml mean?
The surname Himml is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German word himil, meaning “heaven.” It is believed to have been used as a byname, to describe someone who was imagining lofty goals or thinking of heavenly matters.
The Himml surname is generally found in the area of Germany now known as Bavaria, as well as some parts of Austrian. It is also found in many other countries around the world, especially those which had populations of German immigrants, such as the United States, Canada, Argentina and Brazil.
The Himml family name is associated with a number of famous figures, such as artist Ernst Himml, physicist Richard Himml, politician Johannes Himml, theologian Wilhelm Himml and architect Christian Himml.
Himml is also the surname of several businesses, including the German toy company, Himml Spielwaren, and the German-based wine importing company, Himml Weine.
Overall, the surname Himml is an intriguing and interesting name with a long and varied history in Germany and beyond. The fact that it is derived from the same word that means ‘heaven’ may give its holders an interesting perspective on life, and a reminder to always strive for greater heights.
Order DNA origin analysisHimml: Where does the name Himml come from?
Himml is a surname used mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is thought to be derived from the Old Germanic himil, meaning home, family or protection. Historically, the name was used by members of the Himml family who emigrated to Eastern Europe in the 19th century. Today, Himml is still common in some parts of Germany, the former state of Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro) and parts of Austria and Switzerland.
The name is also occasionally encountered in the UK, as a result of immigration from Germany, Austria and Croatia during and after World War II. In the US, the surname is found mainly in New York, Illinois, Massachusetts and California. A search of the US Census shows that the Himml surname is particularly common in the counties of Chesapeake and Arlington, both in Virginia.
Himml is sometimes found coupled with other German surnames such as Schmitt, Himmler, Huber or Weiss. It is also sometimes encountered in combination with other European surnames such as Novak, Mueller or Szabo. There are about 5,200 people with the Himml surname in the world today.
Variations of the surname Himml
The surname Himml is typically found in German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. There are a few different forms of the same surname, depending upon the region it is found in.
In Austria, the surname is often spelled as Himmel. In Germany, the spelling can differ depending on dialect. It may be spelled as Himml, himml, Himmel, himmel, Himl, himl, or Himlen, himlen. In Switzerland, the surname is usually spelled as Himmel but occasionally seen in its original form of Himml.
Several different surnames with the same origin have also been identified over time, such as Himmler, Himly, Himmelberger, Himmelstoss, Himmlerhof, and Himmlerhaupt. Each of these surnames is derived from the original Himml moniker, but is spelled slightly differently based on the region in which it is found.
Additionally, some forms of the surname can also be found in other countries such as the United States, where it may appear as Hummel, Hummell, Hummelsberger, Hummer, Hummert, Hummler, Himmelman, and Himmelspach. Due to its German-speaking origins, Himml is most commonly found in countries where German is an official language.
Famous people with the name Himml
- Benedict Himml: German World War II fighter pilot
- Christine Himml: Austrian television presenter
- Philip Himml: American journalist
- Pirmin Himml: German-American professor
- P. George Himml: dealing with modern physics
- Thomas Himml: German scientist and expert in artificial intelligence
- B. Mark Himml: German-American chemist
- Christopher Himml: German-American film producer
- Joachim Himml: German-American goldsmith and sculptor
- Johann Himml: Austrian philologist and linguist