Hamlin
From an Old English place name meaning "home of a follower of a prince" or "settlement on a hill."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 19,606 Americans carry the last name Hamlin. That puts it at #2,150 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.72 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 17,482 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hamlin 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
20K
1 in 17,482
Census rank
#2,150
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
17K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 16,871 bearers of the surname Hamlin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.72 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2150th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hamlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Black (15.3%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hamlin
The surname Hamlin is of English origin and dates back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ham" meaning a homestead or village, and "linn" meaning a pool, stream, or waterfall. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or waterfall in a small hamlet or village.
Hamlin is thought to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire, England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hameldon" and "Hamelune", referring to settlements in Gloucestershire.
In the 13th century, the name appeared as "Hamelyn" in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. This spelling variation highlights the influence of Norman French on the English language during this period.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Hamelyn, a wealthy merchant from Bristol, England, who was mentioned in records from the late 13th century.
During the 14th century, the name was also found in various spellings such as "Hamelyn" and "Hamelyne" in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was Giles Hamlin, born in England around 1550. He was one of the early English settlers in New England, arriving in Massachusetts in the 1630s.
Another significant figure was Eleazer Hamlin, born in Barnstable, Massachusetts in 1678. He served as a member of the Massachusetts General Court and was involved in the establishment of several towns in the colony.
In the 18th century, John Hamlin, born in 1722 in Massachusetts, fought in the French and Indian War and later became a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War.
The 19th century saw the rise of Hannibal Hamlin, born in 1809 in Maine. He served as the 16th Vice President of the United States under President Abraham Lincoln from 1861 to 1865, during the American Civil War.
Throughout its history, the surname Hamlin has been associated with various place names in England, such as Hamlin in Gloucestershire, Hamlyn in Devon, and Hamlin Hill in Oxfordshire, reflecting the geographical origins of the name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hamlin
Among Census respondents with the surname Hamlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Black (15.3%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Hamlin 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 Hamlin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.2%
- Black or African American15.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hamlin 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 | #2,150 | #2,150 | 0.0% |
| Count | 16,871 | 16,871 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.72 | 5.72 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hamlin bearers went from 16,871 to 16,871 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,150 to #2,150.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hamlin
FAQ
Hamlin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hamlin?
The surname Hamlin holds position #2,150 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 19,606 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.72 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hamlin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hamlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Black (15.3%) and Hispanic (2.3%). 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.