Linney
A surname derived from a place name referring to someone from the town of Linney or other locations containing "lin" ("linden tree").
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,131 Americans carry the last name Linney. That puts it at #25,381 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.33 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 303,054 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Linney 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
1.1K
1 in 303,054
Census rank
#25,381
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
975
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 975 bearers of the surname Linney in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.33 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 25381st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Linney, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.8%. The next largest groups are Black (13.0%) and Hispanic (4.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Linney
The surname Linney has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the place name Linney, which is a small village located in the county of Shropshire. The name Linney itself is believed to come from the Old English words "lin" meaning flax and "eg" meaning island or dry ground, referring to an area where flax was grown.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Linney can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Linnie". This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
In the 13th century, records show variations of the name such as "de Linney" and "de Lynney", indicating that it was used as a locational surname for people hailing from the village of Linney. During this time, the surname was also associated with nearby place names like "Lynney Magna" and "Lynney Parva", which were larger and smaller settlements in the same region.
One notable historical figure bearing the surname Linney was Sir John Linney (c.1450-1518), a wealthy merchant and politician from Bristol who served as the city's Mayor in 1503 and 1511. Another early bearer of the name was William Linney (c.1540-1614), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Maidstone in Kent.
In the 17th century, the surname Linney spread beyond its original Shropshire roots, with bearers appearing in various parts of England. One such individual was Captain James Linney (c.1620-1680), a naval officer who served in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and was later appointed as the Governor of the Bahamas.
During the 18th century, the surname Linney continued to be found across England, with individuals like Thomas Linney (1733-1795), a notable architect and surveyor from Yorkshire who designed several public buildings in the region.
As the centuries progressed, the Linney surname also gained a foothold in other parts of the world, particularly in North America, where many English settlers brought the name with them. One such individual was Joseph Linney (1788-1868), a pioneer who settled in Indiana and became a prominent landowner and farmer in the state.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Linney
Among Census respondents with the surname Linney, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.8%. The next largest groups are Black (13.0%) and Hispanic (4.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Linney 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 Linney surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.8%
- Black or African American13.0%
- Hispanic or Latino4.0%
- Two or more races1.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Linney 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,381 | #25,381 | 0.0% |
| Count | 975 | 975 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Linney bearers went from 975 to 975 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #25,381 to #25,381.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Linney
FAQ
Linney surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Linney?
The surname Linney holds position #25,381 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,131 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.33 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Linney surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Linney, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.8%. The next largest groups are Black (13.0%) and Hispanic (4.0%). 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.