Lem is an English short form of Lemuel, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "for God" (from the preposition lemo and 'el meaning "God"). As a given name, Lem is most commonly encountered as a nickname or independent variant of Lemuel, which appears in the Old Testament as the name of a king mentioned in the Book of Proverbs. In the Book of Mormon, Lemuel is the name of a rebellious son of the prophet Lehi. Notable Bearers Lem as a given name has been borne by or associated with a few notable individuals, though it remains relatively rare. The most famous bearer is the fictional character Lemuel Gulliver, the protagonist of Jonathan Swift's satirical novel Gulliver's Travels (1726). In music, Lemmy Kilmister (Ian Fraser Kilmister), the frontman of the rock band Motörhead, went by the nickname Lemmy, which is a –y variant of Lem. Cultural Significance In addition to its use as a given name, Lem is a common Chinese surname, a spelling variant of Lim (林). According to the 2010 United States Census, Lem was the 22,216th most common surname in the U.S., and was most prevalent among Asian/Pacific Islander individuals (62.02%). As a Dutch and North Germanic surname, it may be a shortened form of Lambrecht or Lempert, related to the name Lambert. Meaning: Short form of Lemuel, “for God” Origin: English, Hebrew Type: Diminutive Usage Regions: English-speaking countries, also a Chinese surname