Berlin
A toponymic surname denoting someone from the city of Berlin, Germany, or any of several other places named Berlin.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 8,706 Americans carry the last name Berlin. That puts it at #4,729 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.54 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 39,370 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Berlin 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
8.7K
1 in 39,370
Census rank
#4,729
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
7.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 7,503 bearers of the surname Berlin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.54 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4729th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Berlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Berlin
The surname BERLIN is of German origin, deriving from the name of the capital city of Germany. The name is thought to have originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.
The name BERLIN is derived from the Old Polabian word 'berl', meaning 'swamp', referring to the area's geography in the early days of the settlement. It was also recorded as 'Berlijn' in Dutch and 'Berlino' in Italian during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name BERLIN can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the 13th century. The name appears in reference to individuals residing in or originating from the city of Berlin.
Historically, the BERLIN surname was often associated with merchants, traders, and craftsmen who had moved from the city of Berlin to other parts of Europe. Some notable individuals bearing the BERLIN surname include:
1. Jacob BERLIN (1499-1566), a German merchant and financier, known for his involvement in the trade between Germany and the Netherlands.
2. Abraham BERLIN (1663-1735), a German-Dutch merchant and banker, who played a significant role in the establishment of the Dutch East India Company.
3. Johann BERLIN (1677-1749), a German painter and engraver, known for his religious and allegorical works.
4. Moses BERLIN (1809-1867), a German-American physician and writer, who published several works on medical topics.
5. Irving BERLIN (1888-1989), a renowned American composer and lyricist, best known for his contributions to musical theater and popular music, including classics like "White Christmas" and "God Bless America".
The BERLIN surname has also been associated with various place names throughout history, such as Berlin-Brandenburg, a former state in Prussia, and Berlin, Connecticut, a town in the United States named after the German city.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Berlin
Among Census respondents with the surname Berlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Berlin 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 Berlin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.3%
- Black or African American1.1%
- Two or more races1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Berlin 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 | #4,729 | #4,729 | 0.0% |
| Count | 7,503 | 7,503 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.54 | 2.54 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Berlin bearers went from 7,503 to 7,503 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #4,729 to #4,729.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Berlin
FAQ
Berlin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Berlin?
The surname Berlin holds position #4,729 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 8,706 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.54 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Berlin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Berlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (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.