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

Marlin, 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 Marlin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Marlin in America

Marlin is the 6121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Marlin surname appeared 5,602 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Marlin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Marlin 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 Marlin

The surname Marlin is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "merlin," meaning "blackbird" or "falcon." It is believed to have originated in the 12th century as a nickname or occupational name for a falconer or someone who trained and cared for falcons.

The name Marlin can be traced back to the Normandy region of France, where it was first recorded in the 12th century. It is possible that the name was brought to England by Norman settlers during the Norman Conquest of 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marlin can be found in the Domesday Book, a record of land ownership in England compiled by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Merlinus," a variation of the modern spelling.

In the 13th century, the name Marlin appeared in various French records, such as the "Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Redon" (Cartulary of the Abbey of Redon) from Brittany, which mentions a "Robertus Merlinus" in 1236.

Notable individuals with the surname Marlin throughout history include Jacques Marlin (1605-1676), a French engraver and illustrator known for his works on architecture and engineering. Another notable figure was John Marlin (1673-1737), an English Protestant minister and author who published several religious works.

In the 19th century, Jean-Baptiste Marlin (1807-1890) was a French gunsmith and inventor, best known for developing the Marlin rifle, a popular and influential firearm design. His company, Marlin Firearms, continues to produce firearms to this day.

Other notable individuals include Charles Louis Marlin (1826-1896), a French politician and lawyer who served as a member of the French National Assembly, and Jacqueline Marlin (1928-2002), a French artist and painter known for her abstract expressionist works.

While the surname Marlin is of French origin, it has been carried by individuals across various countries and cultures throughout history, reflecting the global spread and diversity of this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Marlin

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

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

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

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