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

Lincoln, 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 Lincoln surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lincoln in America

Lincoln is the 2209th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lincoln surname appeared 16,477 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Lincoln.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lincoln 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 Lincoln

The surname Lincoln originates from England, tracing its roots back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon era, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD. It is derived from the Old English words "linca" and "coll," meaning "links" or "heather" and "hill" respectively. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a heather-covered hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lincoln appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions several individuals with variations of the name, such as Lincolne, Lincholne, and Lincholn, indicating its presence in various regions of England during the late 11th century.

The surname Lincoln has a strong connection to the historic city of Lincoln, located in Lincolnshire, England. This city was an important settlement during the Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods, and its name is believed to be derived from the Old English "Lindon Colonia," meaning "Colony on the Hill." It is possible that some early bearers of the Lincoln surname may have originated from or had ties to this area.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Lincoln surname was Robert de Lincoln, a prominent English knight and landowner who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Another notable figure was John Lincoln, a 14th-century English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Ely from 1367 to 1370.

In the 15th century, the surname Lincoln gained further prominence with Abraham Lincoln, a renowned English scholar and theologian who lived from 1408 to 1491. He was known for his writings on religious subjects and his involvement in the early humanist movement.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the Lincoln surname is Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, who lived from 1809 to 1865. Born in Kentucky to a family of English descent, he went on to lead the nation during the Civil War and is remembered for his pivotal role in abolishing slavery and preserving the Union.

Other notable individuals with the Lincoln surname include Benjamin Lincoln, an American revolutionary war general (1733-1810), Levi Lincoln Sr., an American statesman and lawyer (1749-1820), and Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of Abraham Lincoln and a prominent businessman and lawyer (1843-1926).

In summary, the surname Lincoln has a rich history spanning centuries, originating from the Anglo-Saxon era in England and carrying connections to various regions, historical figures, and notable events throughout its evolution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lincoln

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

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

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

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