Find out how popular the last name Acklen is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Acklen.

Acklen, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Acklen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Acklen in America

Acklen is the 95955th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acklen surname appeared 190 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Acklen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Acklen to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Acklen

The surname Acklen is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "ac," meaning "oak," and the suffix "lẽah," which translates to "clearing" or "meadow." This combination suggests that the name may have referred to an area or settlement near an oak clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where it appears as "Aklene." This spelling variation reflects the fluid nature of surnames during that era, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and scribal interpretations.

The Acklen name has also been documented in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332, which mention a Robert de Akelyn. This reference indicates that the name had already begun to take on a more recognizable form by the 14th century.

Among notable individuals bearing the Acklen surname, one can mention William Acklen (1555-1621), a prominent English merchant and landowner who held considerable influence in the city of Bristol during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

Another individual of note is Sir John Acklen (1672-1745), a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army during the War of the Spanish Succession and later became a member of Parliament for the borough of Malmesbury.

In the realm of literature, the name Acklen is associated with Elizabeth Acklen (1790-1867), an English novelist and poet whose works were widely acclaimed in her time. Her most famous novel, "The Heir of Redclyffe," published in 1853, explored themes of duty, self-sacrifice, and moral dilemmas.

Moving into the 19th century, one encounters Joseph Acklen (1815-1891), a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Nashville, Tennessee. He amassed a significant fortune through his involvement in the cotton trade and became known for his generous contributions to various educational and cultural institutions in the region.

Lastly, a more recent figure is Sir Michael Acklen (1932-2018), a British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to several countries, including France and Spain, during his distinguished career with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Throughout its history, the Acklen name has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, military leaders, authors, businessmen, and diplomats, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who have carried this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acklen

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Acklen.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Acklen was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Acklen has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Acklen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Acklen, please contact us.

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