Harlin
A Breton surname derived from a place name or derived from the Welsh element "har" meaning heron.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,748 Americans carry the last name Harlin. That puts it at #18,337 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.51 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 196,084 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Harlin 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
1.7K
1 in 196,084
Census rank
#18,337
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,511 bearers of the surname Harlin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.51 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 18337th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Harlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.1%. The next largest groups are Black (18.1%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Harlin
The surname Harlin is of English origin, emerging in the late medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "lena" meaning dweller or meadow, suggesting that the name initially referred to someone who lived in an area frequented by hares.
The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as Harlinge. This ancient record indicates that the name was present in various counties across England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Cambridgeshire.
During the 13th century, the name evolved to its more modern spelling of Harlin. This variation can be found in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1212, which mention a William Harlin.
Notably, the surname Harlin is associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest is Sir John Harlin (1389-1457), a prominent English landowner and knight who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in the mid-15th century.
Another distinguished bearer of the name was Thomas Harlin (1512-1580), an English theologian and scholar who served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, the name gained recognition through the work of William Harlin (1623-1689), a renowned English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary-le-Strand in London.
The 18th century saw the rise of James Harlin (1745-1819), a respected English botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life and the development of modern gardening techniques.
Lastly, one cannot overlook the legacy of Sir Edward Harlin (1812-1891), a highly decorated British military officer who served in various campaigns, including the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857, earning him the prestigious Victoria Cross for his bravery.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Harlin
Among Census respondents with the surname Harlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.1%. The next largest groups are Black (18.1%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Harlin 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 Harlin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White71.1%
- Black or African American18.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.9%
- Two or more races3.3%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Harlin 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 | #18,337 | #18,337 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,511 | 1,511 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.51 | 0.51 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Harlin bearers went from 1,511 to 1,511 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #18,337 to #18,337.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Harlin
FAQ
Harlin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Harlin?
The surname Harlin holds position #18,337 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,748 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.51 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Harlin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Harlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.1%. The next largest groups are Black (18.1%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.9%). 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.