Im
A short surname found in several cultures, most often as a Korean family name, but also as a variant spelling in other naming traditions.
The #6,880 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 63,177 Americans shares it.
Etymology
As a Korean surname, Im usually represents the family name written Lim/Rim in the Revised Romanization of Korean, from the Sino-Korean character 林 meaning "forest" or "woods." In some other contexts, Im can also be an independent spelling or simplified form of surnames from other languages, including names that begin with a nasal sound or that have been shortened in immigration records. Because the spelling is very short and can arise in more than one way, the surname is best treated as multi-origin rather than tied to one single root.
History
In the Korean context, the name is long established and associated with several clans, with the same Chinese character also appearing in related forms such as Lim and Rim. In English-language records, Im can also reflect spelling variation created by transcription, migration, or clerical simplification, which helps explain why it appears in a small number of American households from different backgrounds. Its relatively low U.S. count suggests a name that is uncommon overall but carried by multiple distinct lineages.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Korean surname can appear as Im, Lim, or Rim depending on how the initial consonant is romanized.
Notable people named Im
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.