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

Linen, 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 Linen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Linen in America

Linen is the 26391st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Linen surname appeared 925 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 Linen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Linen 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 Linen

The surname LINEN is of English origin, emerging in the late medieval period. Its earliest form was derived from the Old English word "linen," which referred to the flax-based textile material. This surname was likely occupational, given to individuals involved in the production or trade of linen fabric.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the LINEN surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where a Robert Linen is listed as a taxpayer. The name also surfaces in various English parish records from the 14th and 15th centuries, with variations like Lynnen, Lynnon, and Linon.

In the 16th century, the LINEN surname gained prominence with the rise of the English linen industry. Areas such as Lancashire and Yorkshire were major centers for linen production, and many families involved in this trade adopted the LINEN surname. Notable individuals from this period include Thomas Linen (c. 1520-1585), a prominent linen merchant from Lancashire.

The LINEN surname spread to other parts of the British Isles, with records showing its presence in Scotland and Ireland by the 17th century. One notable Scottish bearer was John Linen (1617-1675), a renowned Presbyterian minister and theologian.

In the 18th century, the LINEN surname continued to be associated with the textile industry. Significant bearers include William Linen (1734-1803), an English inventor who patented several improvements to the linen-spinning process, and Elizabeth Linen (1748-1828), a renowned Irish linen manufacturer and philanthropist.

As the Industrial Revolution reshaped the textile industry in the 19th century, the LINEN surname became less tied to the specific occupation. However, it remained connected to the broader textile and manufacturing sectors. Notable figures from this period include John Linen (1802-1876), a prominent English cotton manufacturer, and Robert Linen (1825-1902), a Scottish inventor who developed improvements in linen weaving machinery.

Throughout its history, the LINEN surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergy, industrialists, and inventors. While its origins can be traced back to the linen trade, the name has evolved to become a distinctive part of the English surname landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Linen

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

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

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

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