• As a south German surname, from the noun Heim (“home”).
• As a Norwegian surname, from farmsteads named with, or directly from, the Old Norse noun heimr (“home”), related to the above.
• As a Jewish surname, from the Yiddish name חיים (Khayem). Doublet of Chaim.

Heim (plural Heims)

1. A surname from German.

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Heim is the 2513^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 14414 individuals. Heim is most common among White (91.66%) individuals.

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Heim”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 2, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 155.

From Middle High German heim, from Old High German heim, from Proto-West Germanic *haim. Cognate with Dutch heem, English home, Danish hjem.

• IPA^(key): /haɪ̯m/

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)); [häe̯m]:

  (file)

• Audio (Austria); [hæe̯m]:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪ̯m

Heim n (strong, genitive Heims or Heimes, plural Heime)

1. (in compounds and expressions, otherwise chiefly poetic) home, one’s dwelling, the place where one is at home

   Synonym: Zuhause

   Eigenheim ― own home, owner-occupied house

   Heimcomputer ― home computer

   Heimtrainer ― stationary bicycle (literally, “home trainer”)

   Am wohlsten fühlt er sich im trauten Heim.

   He feels most comfortable in his sweet home.

   (idiomatic, humorous)

   Ich baue das Haus, um meiner Familie ein Heim zu schaffen.

   I’m building the house in order to create a home for my family.

   (elevated, poetic)

2. (now the main use) a home, asylum, hostel (residence for some specified group)

   Studentenwohnheim ― hall of residence (literally, “student living home”)

   Tierheim ― animal shelter

   1. without further context usually short for either Kinderheim (“children’s home, orphanage”) or Altersheim (“retirement home”)

      Mein Sohn / Vater ist im Heim.

      My son / father lives in a home.

   2. (by extension also) a house, center for a collective purpose other than to dwell in

      Synonym: Zentrum

      Vereinsheim ― club house

• “Heim” in Duden online
• “Heim” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

From Middle Low German hēm, from Old Saxon hēm, from Proto-West Germanic *haim.

Heim n (plural Heima or Heims)

1. home