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

Lien, 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 Lien surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lien in America

Lien is the 5127th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lien surname appeared 6,827 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Lien.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lien 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 Lien

The surname LIEN originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "lien," meaning "bond" or "tie." This name likely referred to a person who was somehow bound or tied to a particular place or individual, perhaps as a servant or retainer.

The earliest known record of the LIEN surname dates back to the 13th century in the region of Normandy, France. One of the earliest documented individuals with this name was Guillaume Lien, a minor landowner mentioned in a charter from 1267.

In the 14th century, the LIEN name appeared in several tax records and legal documents in the French provinces of Normandy, Brittany, and Picardy. The spellings varied slightly, with forms such as "Lyen," "Lian," and "Lyan" also being used.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the LIEN surname spread to other regions of France, including the Île-de-France and Poitou-Charentes. One notable bearer of this name was Jean Lien, a merchant from Rouen who lived from approximately 1420 to 1489.

In the 17th century, the LIEN name began to appear in various records across Europe, likely due to migration from France. One example is Hans Lien, a German farmer born in 1624 in the village of Niederbronn, Alsace (now part of France).

Other notable individuals with the LIEN surname throughout history include:

1. Pierre Lien (1580-1644), a French Jesuit missionary who worked in Canada and played a role in the early colonization of New France.
2. Francois Lien (1685-1748), a French painter and engraver known for his portraits and religious works.
3. Josephine Lien (1792-1868), a French writer and feminist who advocated for women's education and rights.
4. Charles Lien (1819-1892), a Belgian engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early steam engines.
5. Emile Lien (1876-1932), a French composer and pianist known for his works in the Impressionist style.

While the LIEN surname is not among the most common in France today, it has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life across Europe over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lien

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

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

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

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