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

Kin, 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 Kin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kin in America

Kin is the 16519th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kin surname appeared 1,739 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 Kin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kin 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.

The history of the last name Kin

The surname "Kin" originates from Scotland, where it emerged in the early 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "cion," meaning "love" or "affection." The name is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Perthshire and Inverness-shire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Kin" can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a reference is made to a "Johannes Kyn" in the year 1290. This document provides valuable insight into the name's early usage and its association with Scotland.

The name "Kin" has also been linked to various place names in Scotland, such as Kincardine and Kinross. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time. In some historical records, the name appears as "Kyn" or "Kynne," reflecting the various spellings used in earlier times.

Notables bearing the surname "Kin" throughout history include:

1. Robert Kin (c. 1495 - 1555), a Scottish clergyman and theologian who played a crucial role in the Scottish Reformation.
2. James Kin (1610 - 1688), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as a member of the Scottish Parliament.
3. Mary Kin (1745 - 1820), a Scottish poet and writer renowned for her works on Scottish folklore and traditions.
4. William Kin (1790 - 1867), a Scottish inventor and engineer known for his contributions to the development of early steam engines.
5. John Kin (1835 - 1912), a Scottish artist and painter renowned for his landscapes depicting the Scottish Highlands.

While the name "Kin" has deep roots in Scotland, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and has undergone various spelling variations over time. However, its Scottish origins and connection to the Gaelic word "cion" remain a significant part of its historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kin

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

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 Kin was:

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

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

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

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