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

Ling, 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 Ling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ling in America

Ling is the 3887th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ling surname appeared 9,127 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Ling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ling 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 Ling

The surname LING has its origins in England, and it is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "ling," which means a heather plant or a type of low-growing shrub.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LING surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Richard de Ling is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have initially been a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near an area abundant with heather or ling plants.

In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a reference to a person named William Lyng, which is likely an early variant spelling of the LING surname. This record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the 13th century.

The LING surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Ling in Norfolk and Ling Rigg in Yorkshire. These place names may have contributed to the development and spread of the surname in different regions.

One notable individual bearing the LING surname was Sir Ralph Ling (c. 1520-1586), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Nicholas Ling (c. 1533-1607), an English printer and publisher who was known for printing works by playwrights like William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. Ling's printing shop was located in London, and he played a significant role in the dissemination of literature during the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century, Henry Ling (1610-1662) was a notable English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Norwich. He was recognized for his sermons and writings on religious subjects.

Moving forward to the 18th century, John Ling (1696-1768) was an English botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their classification. He is particularly known for his work on the flora of Cambridgeshire.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Peter John Ling (1837-1911) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians.

These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence and historical significance of the LING surname, originating from its roots in England and spanning various fields and professions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ling

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

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

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

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