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

Lynn, 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 Lynn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lynn in America

Lynn is the 924th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lynn surname appeared 37,644 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 13 people would have the surname Lynn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lynn 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 Lynn

The surname LYNN is an English locational name that originated from the Old English word 'lin' meaning a pool or lake. It was initially used to refer to someone who lived near a body of water, such as a lake or pond.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century when it was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Linna' in reference to a place in Norfolk, England. Over time, the spelling evolved into various forms like Linn, Linne, and eventually LYNN.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname LYNN can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1181, where it appeared as 'Robertus de Linna'. This suggests that the name was well-established in parts of England by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname LYNN was associated with several notable individuals, including Sir Philip de Lynn, a knight who fought in the Battle of Lewes in 1264. Another early bearer of the name was William de Lynn, a wealthy merchant from King's Lynn, Norfolk, who lived in the late 13th century.

The surname LYNN has also been linked to various place names, such as King's Lynn in Norfolk, which was originally known as 'Lun' or 'Lenne' in Old English. This connection further reinforces the locational origin of the surname.

Among the notable bearers of the surname LYNN throughout history are:

1. Thomas Lynn (c. 1530-1616), an English mathematician and astronomer who served as the Chief Gunner of England.
2. Ralph Lynn (1882-1962), an English actor and comedian, known for his performances in films and on stage.
3. Vera Lynn (1917-2020), a renowned British singer and entertainer, famously known as the "Forces' Sweetheart" during World War II.
4. Jonathan Lynn (born 1943), a British writer, director, and actor, best known for co-writing and directing the comedy films "Clue" and "Nuns on the Run."
5. Loretta Lynn (1932-2022), an American singer-songwriter and author, considered a leading figure in country music and a recipient of numerous awards and accolades.

The surname LYNN has a rich history, originating from the Old English word for a pool or lake, and has been associated with various notable individuals, places, and events throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lynn

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

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

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

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