Arlen
A place name referring to someone living near a meadow or clearing of land.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 446 Americans carry the last name Arlen. That puts it at #54,418 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 768,507 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Arlen surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
446
1 in 768,507
Census rank
#54,418
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
379
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 379 bearers of the surname Arlen in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 54418th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Arlen, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Arlen
The surname Arlen is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Old English name "Arnold," which is derived from the Germanic elements "arn," meaning "eagle," and "wald," meaning "power" or "ruler."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arlen can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Maidstone, Kent, where a certain John Arlen was baptized in 1587. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire in 1628, where a Thomas Arlen is listed as a resident of the village of Corsham.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Arlen surname was primarily concentrated in the counties of Kent, Wiltshire, and Somerset in southwestern England. It is possible that the name may have originated from a place name or a locational surname, but no definitive evidence has been found to support this theory.
Notable individuals with the surname Arlen include:
1. Michael Arlen (1895-1956), a British-American novelist and playwright best known for his satirical work "The Green Hat," which was adapted into a successful Broadway play and film.
2. Richard Arlen (1899-1976), an American actor who appeared in many films during the silent and early sound eras of Hollywood, including "Wings" (1927), for which he won an Academy Award.
3. Edna Ferber (1885-1968), an American novelist and playwright whose full name was Edna Arlen Ferber. She wrote several popular works, including "Show Boat," "Cimarron," and "Giant."
4. Harold Arlen (1905-1986), an American composer and songwriter who is best known for writing the music for the classic film "The Wizard of Oz," including the iconic song "Over the Rainbow."
5. Walter Arlen (1920-1998), a British author and journalist who wrote several books on the history of medicine and the medical profession.
While the surname Arlen is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a long and fascinating history, with roots stretching back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England. The name has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, including literature, film, and music, further contributing to its enduring legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Arlen
Among Census respondents with the surname Arlen, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Arlen bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Arlen surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Black or African American1.3%
- Two or more races1.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Arlen surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #54,418 | #54,418 | 0.0% |
| Count | 379 | 379 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Arlen bearers went from 379 to 379 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #54,418 to #54,418.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Arlen
FAQ
Arlen surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Arlen?
The surname Arlen holds position #54,418 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 446 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Arlen surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Arlen, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.