Hedlin last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Hedlin

A Swedish surname derived from a diminutive form of the personal name Hedda.

Hedlin, 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 Hedlin surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Hedlin in America

Hedlin is the 142819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hedlin surname appeared 107 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Hedlin.

The history of the last name Hedlin

The surname Hedlin is believed to have originated in Scandinavia, specifically from Sweden. The roots of the name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, a period characterized by the use of topographical surnames, referring to the geographical features of the areas where individuals lived. Hedlin is derived from the Old Norse words "heiðr," meaning "heath" or "moor," and "lín," which means "line" or "flax." The combination of these elements suggests a landscape characterized by flat, open land covered in flax or perhaps heathland.

The appearance of the surname Hedlin in historical records is relatively sparse, given its specific regional roots. One of the earliest mentions of a name with a similar etymological background is in the 14th century, when Scandinavian naming conventions began to stabilize. The Swedish archives contain references to variants such as Hedin and Hedlund, indicating an evolution in the surname's spelling over time. By the 18th century, the spelling Hedlin became more standardized as record-keeping improved.

Among the notable bearers of the name Hedlin is Lars Petter Hedlin, born in 1753, who was a well-respected public figure in his local community in Uppsala, Sweden. His contributions to local governance and charity work were documented in local parish records. Another individual, Maria Hedlin, born in 1789, is noted for her journal entries that provide valuable insights into rural Swedish life in the early 19th century.

During the 19th century, the name Hedlin appears in emigration records as Sweden experienced a significant wave of emigration. Many Swedes, including several families bearing the Hedlin surname, moved to North America in search of better opportunities. One such emigrant was Gustav Hedlin, born in 1835, who settled in Minnesota in 1862 and became known for his contributions to the growing Scandinavian-American community there.

In the realm of academia, Karl August Hedlin, born in 1891, made significant contributions to the field of botany. His research on Scandinavian flora was widely respected and his publications are still referenced today. Another notable Hedlin from a later period is Ingrid Hedlin, born in 1923, who was an influential advocate for women's rights and played a pivotal role in Swedish politics during the mid-20th century.

The surname Hedlin, with its origins deeply rooted in the Swedish landscape and culture, carries with it a history woven from the threads of geographical description, migration, and individual contributions to society. Over centuries, it has been borne by individuals who left their mark in various ways, shaping the historical narrative tied to this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hedlin

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hedlin was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.26% 103
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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"Hedlin last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/hedlin-surname-popularity/.

"Hedlin last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/hedlin-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 August, 2025

Hedlin last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/hedlin-surname-popularity/.

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