Save Type Surname (from location & ornamental) Usage German, Jewish Scripts הימלרייך(Hebrew) Pronounced Pron. /ˈhɪ.məl.ʁaɪ̯ç/(German) [key·simplify] Meaning & History humorous topographic name from a place so named as being at a high altitude from Middle High German himel "heaven" and riche "empire" meaning "kingdom of heaven, heavenly kingdom".