Hello all,I did some research and some online translations Dictionaries translate, Heim as Home as in (Homeland=Heimatland);(at Home=daheim);(hometown=Heimatstadt).As for German family names,this can be tricky thing. The origin of a German name may not always be what it seems, variations from old low german to modern German, it can make many possible pronounces,further more depending on which part of Germany a person comes from. Old Roman Historical records speak of Heim=Home+Rich=Ruler(Heinrich)this interpretation is derivation (heim)(hine)in northern Germany,part of the old Hessen tribes. This ruler was called Hinez this word can be translated in to English as Henry. Henry personal name is composed of the elements of old German introduced into England by Anglo-Germans. The latinized form Hemricus became Heinz=ritz. This from original germanic tribes descendants from Rhimr area of north Germany Rheimland(Homeland). The Old Latin Historian TACITUS recorded a German ruler of the north Called Arminus in latin, but in german language this latin interpretation of his name can be a derivation heime(z)inus, the first known leader of this Kingdom. That all for now. . I was told by my family that the South Dakota Hine(z)man's, maybe all Hine(z)man's, go all the way back to Germany. I have corresponded with some, Hine(z)man's, in Germany, they say that the Hine(z)man's name or family name, is a old and great name, that it come from the German root word for Home(HEIN) composed of Teutonic elements, and that etymologies say this is undoubtedly a very ancient origin and is first mention in official documents as a ruler or King of a Kingdom. They think that the First Hine(z)man Rule over a Kingdom in the north close to the Baltic sea region of Germany, and some ancestors helped Anglo-Saxon conquer England, and that they can trace the Hine(z)man legacy all the way back to 1st.century A.D.. There genealogies record constitute of the oldest, W. European history written in the vernacular, and is the chief source for German and Anglo-Saxon history. I got this from many different German's Hine(z)man's all over Germany, who do not know each other. Please write. Thank You All . David