Largen last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Largen

A locational surname derived from a place name, likely of Scandinavian origin.

Largen, 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 Largen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Largen in America

Largen is the 39887th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Largen surname appeared 550 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Largen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Largen 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 39887 30831 25.61%
Count 550 713 -25.81%
Proportion per 100k 0.19 0.26 -31.11%

The history of the last name Largen

The surname LARGEN has its origins in the Old Norse language, with roots that can be traced back to the Viking settlements in northern England and Scotland during the 9th and 10th centuries. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "lairge," which referred to a wide or spacious area, often associated with a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LARGEN surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Largen" in the county of Yorkshire. This suggests that the name had already established itself in northern England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the medieval period, the LARGEN surname was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, including Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Cumberland. It was often associated with landowners or farmers who possessed sizeable tracts of land, reflecting the original meaning of the name.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John de Largen was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, which were medieval tax records. He was likely a landowner or tenant of considerable means during that time.

Another early example of the LARGEN surname can be found in the Chronicles of Melrose Abbey, a historical text written in the 14th century. It mentions a certain Richard Largen, who lived in the Scottish Borders region and played a role in the ongoing conflicts between England and Scotland.

As the centuries progressed, the LARGEN surname continued to appear in various historical records, often associated with places such as Largen Hall in Lancashire, England, and Largen Manor in Northumberland. These locations likely derived their names from early LARGEN landowners or tenants.

One notable bearer of the LARGEN surname was Sir Thomas Largen (1540-1617), an English soldier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served in the English army and was knighted for his military services.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named William Largen (1707-1783) was a successful merchant and landowner in Yorkshire. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed to the establishment of several educational institutions in the region.

Another notable LARGEN was Elizabeth Largen (1820-1898), a Scottish author and poet who wrote extensively about the landscapes and people of her native Highlands. Her works were widely acclaimed and helped preserve the cultural heritage of the region.

Throughout its history, the LARGEN surname has maintained a strong presence in the northern regions of England and Scotland, reflecting its ancient Norse origins and association with landholding and rural communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Largen

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

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 Largen was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.00% 517
Non-Hispanic Black Only 1.09% 6
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.55% 14
Hispanic Origin 1.09% 6

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.00% 95.51% -1.59%
Black 1.09% 2.24% -69.07%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 2.55% 1.12% 77.93%
Hispanic 1.09% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Largen last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 8, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/largen-surname-popularity/.

"Largen last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/largen-surname-popularity/. Accessed 8 July, 2025

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

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