Dylan
A Welsh surname derived from the Welsh name "Dylan", meaning great tide or great wave.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 308 Americans carry the last name Dylan. That puts it at #73,911 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.09 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,112,839 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dylan 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
308
1 in 1,112,839
Census rank
#73,911
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
262
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 262 bearers of the surname Dylan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 73911th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dylan, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.6%) and Black (6.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dylan
The surname Dylan has its origins in Wales, dating back to around the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Welsh word "dylyn," which means "waves" or "surf." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near the coast or had an occupation related to the sea.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dylan surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1191, where a person named Ythel Dylun is mentioned. This is likely an early spelling variation of the name.
In the 13th century, the name appears in the Cartae Antiquae Rolls, which were records of land grants and property transactions. A certain Madoc ap Dylan is listed as holding lands in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales.
The Dylan surname is also closely associated with the ancient Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth, which covered parts of southwestern Wales. It is possible that the name originated among the noble families or gentry of this region.
One notable historical figure with the Dylan surname was Hywel Dylan, a Welsh clergyman who lived in the late 15th century. He served as the Archdeacon of St. Davids and was involved in the translation of religious texts into Welsh.
Another individual of note was Rhys Dylan, a Welsh poet and bard who lived in the 16th century. He is known for his works in the cywydd meter, a traditional form of Welsh poetry.
In the 17th century, there was a prominent Welsh family called the Dylans of Muddlescombe, who owned lands and estates in Carmarthenshire. One member of this family, John Dylan (1608-1678), was a renowned scholar and writer of his time.
The Dylan surname has also been associated with several place names in Wales, such as Dylans Bridge and Dylans Haven, both located in Pembrokeshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the Dylan surname who lived or owned property in these areas.
Other notable individuals with the Dylan surname include Sir Hugh Dylan (1818-1892), a Welsh industrialist and coal magnate, and Dafydd Dylan (1892-1964), a Welsh poet and writer known for his works in the free verse style.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dylan
Among Census respondents with the surname Dylan, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.6%) and Black (6.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Dylan 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 Dylan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.9%
- Hispanic or Latino7.6%
- Black or African American6.1%
- Unknown or suppressed2.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dylan 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #93,841 | #73,911 | 21.2% |
| Count | 181 | 262 | 44.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.09 | 28.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Dylan bearers went from 181 to 262 (+44.8% change). The surname moved up 19,930 positions in the national ranking, going from #93,841 to #73,911.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dylan
FAQ
Dylan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dylan?
The surname Dylan holds position #73,911 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 308 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dylan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dylan, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.6%) and Black (6.1%). 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.