In last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of In

A surname indicating someone lived at or near an inn.

In, 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 In surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of In in America

In is the 18507th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The In surname appeared 1,492 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 In.

We can also compare 2010 data for In 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 18507 21620 -15.52%
Count 1,492 1,124 28.13%
Proportion per 100k 0.51 0.42 19.35%

The history of the last name In

The surname "In" is believed to have originated in China, where it has a long and rich history dating back several centuries. It is derived from the Chinese word "yin," which means "shade" or "shelter." This name was likely given to individuals who lived in or near forested areas or who worked in professions related to nature or the great outdoors.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "In" can be found in the historical records of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it was mentioned in connection with a prominent family of scholars and officials. This family played an influential role in shaping the cultural and political landscape of the time.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the surname "In" gained further prominence when it was associated with several notable figures. One such individual was In Zhongxian (1510-1597), a renowned artist and calligrapher whose works are still celebrated today for their beauty and technical mastery.

Another significant figure bearing the surname "In" was In Qingbi (1572-1628), a military strategist and general who played a crucial role in defending the empire against foreign invasions. His tactical acumen and leadership earned him widespread respect and admiration.

In the realm of literature, the surname "In" is represented by the esteemed poet and scholar In Wenjian (1593-1642). His poetic works, which often explored themes of nature and the human condition, have been widely studied and celebrated throughout the centuries.

Moving forward in time, the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) saw the rise of In Zhaoyang (1781-1854), a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. His groundbreaking work helped advance our understanding of the universe and paved the way for future discoveries.

Across the vast expanse of Chinese history, the surname "In" has been carried by countless individuals who have left indelible marks on various aspects of society, from the arts and sciences to politics and military affairs. While this is just a glimpse into the rich tapestry of this surname's legacy, it serves as a testament to the enduring impact and cultural significance of the name "In" throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name In

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

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 In was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 4.02% 60
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.34% 5
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 91.35% 1,363
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.88% 28
Hispanic Origin 2.41% 36

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 In has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 4.02% 5.16% -24.84%
Black 0.34% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 91.35% 85.50% 6.62%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.88% 6.32% -108.29%
Hispanic 2.41% 2.14% 11.87%

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

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

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"In last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/in-surname-popularity/.

"In last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/in-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

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

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