Hyman
A surname with several possible roots, most often explained as a Jewish name from Hebrew *Chaim* “life,” though some bearers may have inherited it as an English variant of other names.
The #3,158 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 26,998 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hyman is usually treated as a surname of more than one origin. In Jewish usage it is commonly linked to the personal name Hebrew *Chaim* “life,” often entering English spelling as Hyman or Hyam. In some cases it may also reflect an English naming pattern from the old given name Hyam/Hiam, or be a spelling variant shaped by regional pronunciation.
History
The name became established in Britain and later in North America, especially among Jewish families, where it was often recorded in Anglicized forms by clerks and census takers. Because similar spellings can arise from different sources, one family line named Hyman is not necessarily related to another. The surname is well represented in the United States today and is also found in Britain, Canada, and other English-speaking countries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same spelling can hide different family histories: in one branch it may point to a Hebrew given name meaning “life,” while in another it may simply be an Anglicized variant built from local pronunciation.
From the historical record
“Hooded People'] HYMAn'^'^ I see Hyman in the Diet. HIRSCH (Ger.) Hart, Stag [O.H.Ger. hiruz] HIRSCHBERG (Ger.) Hart-Hill [O.H.Ger. hiruz + berg]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)