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

Catlin, 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 Catlin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Catlin in America

Catlin is the 6940th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Catlin surname appeared 4,831 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Catlin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Catlin 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 Catlin

The surname Catlin originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "catt," meaning "cat," and the suffix "-lin," indicating a diminutive or small form. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone with a connection to cats, perhaps a cat breeder, owner, or even someone with cat-like characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Catlin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Catelinus" in Lincolnshire. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in parts of England.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Catelyn," "Cattelyne," and "Cattelain," reflecting regional spellings and pronunciations. During this period, the name was particularly prevalent in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

A notable historical figure bearing the Catlin surname was George Catlin (1796-1872), an American artist, author, and traveler best known for his depictions of Native American life and culture. His works provided valuable insights into the indigenous peoples of the American West.

Another prominent Catlin was Thomas Catlin (1600-1670), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Battersea and published several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Two Covenants" and "A Treatise on the Graces of Justification and Sanctification."

In the 18th century, Robert Catlin (1730-1808) was a British officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He commanded several ships and participated in notable battles against the American colonists.

Moving forward to the 19th century, George Catlin (1808-1888), an English-born Australian politician and businessman, played a significant role in the early development of the colony of South Australia. He served as a member of the Legislative Council and was involved in various commercial ventures.

Another noteworthy figure was Henry Catlin (1872-1931), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri from 1921 to 1925. He was also involved in several business ventures and philanthropic endeavors.

The Catlin surname has roots stretching back to medieval England and has been associated with various historical figures across different fields, including art, literature, military, politics, and business. Despite its diminutive origins, the name has gained a notable presence throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Catlin

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

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 Catlin 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 Catlin 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 Catlin was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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