Margolin
A surname of Slavic origin derived from the Russian word "margol," meaning a person from the Margol region.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,508 Americans carry the last name Margolin. That puts it at #20,382 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.44 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 227,291 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Margolin 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
1.5K
1 in 227,291
Census rank
#20,382
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,304 bearers of the surname Margolin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.44 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 20382nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Margolin, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Margolin
The surname Margolin has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and Ukraine, where it emerged in the late 18th to early 19th century. It is derived from the Russian word "margolit," which means "pearl" or "small pearl." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone with a particular physical characteristic, such as bright eyes or a fair complexion, resembling the appearance of a pearl.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Margolin can be found in the Census of Kherson Governorate of the Russian Empire, dated 1795, where a merchant named Yakov Margolin is mentioned. Another early reference is in the records of the Jewish community in Berdichev, Ukraine, from the early 19th century, where several families with the surname Margolin are listed.
In the 19th century, the Margolin surname was associated with several notable figures. Abram Yakovlevich Margolin (1815-1884) was a prominent Russian writer, translator, and educator, known for his translations of works by Shakespeare and Molière. His son, Yakov Abramovich Margolin (1854-1920), was a renowned Russian lawyer and legal scholar.
Another notable individual with the surname Margolin was Yuliy Margolin (1900-1971), a Soviet writer and literary critic. He was born in Kherson, Ukraine, and became known for his works on Russian literature and literary criticism.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Margolin surname spread across Eastern Europe and beyond, as individuals emigrated to other parts of the world. One prominent figure was Abram Margolin (1899-1970), a Russian-born American lawyer and civil rights activist who played a significant role in the defense of the Scottsboro Boys, a group of African American youths falsely accused of a crime in Alabama in the 1930s.
In more recent times, the Margolin surname has been associated with individuals in various fields, such as Julius Margolin (1900-1994), a Russian-born American physicist and educator, and David Margolin (born 1946), an American actor and director.
Overall, the surname Margolin has a rich history rooted in Eastern Europe, with its origins dating back to the late 18th century. While the name initially emerged as a nickname, it has since become a widely recognized surname, carried by individuals who have made significant contributions across various disciplines.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Margolin
Among Census respondents with the surname Margolin, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Margolin 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 Margolin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.8%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
- Two or more races0.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Margolin 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 | #20,382 | #20,382 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,304 | 1,304 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Margolin bearers went from 1,304 to 1,304 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #20,382 to #20,382.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Margolin
FAQ
Margolin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Margolin?
The surname Margolin holds position #20,382 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,508 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.44 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Margolin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Margolin, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.0%). 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.