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

Link, 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 Link surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Link in America

Link is the 1627th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Link surname appeared 22,137 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Link.

We can also compare 2010 data for Link 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 Link

The surname LINK is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "linc," which referred to a ridge or rising ground. This name likely emerged as a topographic surname, describing someone who lived near or on a ridge or hill.

The earliest recorded use of the surname LINK can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. In some instances, the name was also spelled as "Lynke" or "Lincke," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that era.

One of the earliest documented references to the LINK surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded landowners and taxpayers in England. The name was also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, indicating its widespread use across various parts of the country.

Notably, the LINK surname appeared in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, the precise entry and location are not definitively known.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the LINK surname. One of the earliest was John Link, a prominent English merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived in the late 14th century. Another early figure was William Link, a member of the English Parliament who represented the county of Norfolk in the 1420s.

In the 16th century, Henry Link, born in 1522, was a renowned scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the English Reformation. He authored several influential works on religion and theology during his lifetime.

During the 17th century, the LINK surname was associated with the landed gentry in various parts of England. One notable family was the Links of Lincolnshire, who owned substantial estates and held positions of influence in local government and society.

In the 18th century, Samuel Link, born in 1745, was a renowned English naturalist and botanist. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life and is credited with discovering several new species of plants during his expeditions throughout the British Isles.

By the 19th century, the LINK surname had spread to other parts of the world, particularly through British emigration and colonization. Some notable individuals from this period include David Link, an English architect born in 1812, who designed several prominent buildings in London, and William Link, a British explorer and writer born in 1856, who documented his travels in Africa and Asia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Link

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

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

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

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