Linnear
A surname derived from the Old French word for flaxman or maker of linen.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Linnear. That puts it at #105,079 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Linnear surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#105,079
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
170
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 170 bearers of the surname Linnear in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 105079th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Linnear, the largest self-reported group is Black at 88.8%. The next largest groups are White (7.7%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Linnear
The surname LINNEAR is believed to have originated in the British Isles, specifically in England, during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place name, possibly referring to a settlement near a linden tree or a grove of linden trees. The name may have evolved from older spellings such as "Lindener" or "Lindeneyre."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the LINNEAR surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire from the year 1230, where a person named Walter Lindener is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century in England.
The LINNEAR surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Robert Lyndenere. This further reinforces the connection of the name to the linden tree and its association with specific locations.
In the 14th century, the LINNEAR surname appears in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York from 1345, where a John Lyndenere is recorded. This indicates that the name had spread to different regions of England by this time.
One notable bearer of the LINNEAR surname was William Lyndenere, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, around 1375. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Lincoln during the late 14th and early 15th centuries.
Another individual of note was Sir Thomas Linnear, born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1521. He was a renowned soldier and served as a captain in the English army during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Sir Thomas Linnear was knighted for his bravery and military service in 1588.
In Scotland, the LINNEAR surname also has a presence, with records showing a John Lindneir living in Aberdeenshire in the late 16th century. This suggests that the name may have migrated from England to Scotland over time.
During the 17th century, the LINNEAR surname can be found in various parish records and court documents across England and Scotland, indicating its continued use and spread throughout the British Isles.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Linnear
Among Census respondents with the surname Linnear, the largest self-reported group is Black at 88.8%. The next largest groups are White (7.7%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Linnear bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Linnear surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American88.8%
- White7.7%
- Two or more races2.9%
- Unknown or suppressed0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Linnear surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #66,274 | #105,079 | -58.6% |
| Count | 279 | 170 | -39.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.06 | -40.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Linnear bearers went from 279 to 170 (-39.1% change). The surname moved down 38,805 positions in the national ranking, going from #66,274 to #105,079.
FAQ
Linnear surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Linnear?
The surname Linnear holds position #105,079 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Linnear surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Linnear, the largest self-reported group is Black at 88.8%. The next largest groups are White (7.7%) and Two or More Races (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.