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

Dahlin, 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 Dahlin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dahlin in America

Dahlin is the 12536th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dahlin surname appeared 2,472 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Dahlin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dahlin 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 Dahlin

The surname Dahlin has its origins in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden and Norway, where it emerged during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old Norse word "daler," which referred to a valley or a dale. The name likely originated as a descriptive identifier for individuals who lived in a specific valley or dale.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dahlin can be found in the medieval Swedish provincial laws, known as the "landskapslagar," which date back to the 13th century. These legal documents often mentioned individuals by their surnames, and the name Dahlin or its variations, such as Dallin or Dalen, appeared in various regions of Sweden.

In Norway, the name Dahlin can be traced back to the 14th century, when it was documented in the Norwegian Diplomatorium, a collection of medieval Norwegian documents. One notable Norwegian bearer of the name was Jens Dahlin (1513-1589), a Lutheran clergyman and theologian who played a significant role in the Reformation in Norway.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Dahlin was also associated with several prominent Swedish families. One example is the Dahlin family from the province of Västergötland, which produced several notable individuals, including Johan Dahlin (1593-1652), a Swedish military officer and landowner, and his son, Claes Dahlin (1631-1703), a Swedish nobleman and politician.

Another notable bearer of the name was Olof Dahlin (1692-1763), a Swedish clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Strängnäs from 1744 until his death. He was known for his contributions to the Swedish church and his writings on theological subjects.

In more recent times, the name Dahlin has been associated with several prominent figures in various fields. One example is Nils Dahlin (1858-1947), a Swedish painter and etcher who was renowned for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting the Swedish countryside.

Furthermore, the name Dahlin has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of science and technology. One such individual is John Dahlin (1904-1989), an American electrical engineer and inventor who played a crucial role in the development of television technology during the early 20th century.

While the surname Dahlin has its roots in Scandinavia, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and intermarriage. However, its historical significance and connections to the valleys and dales of Sweden and Norway remain an integral part of its rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dahlin

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

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

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

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