Matlin
A locational surname derived from the French placename Matlin or Maslin.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Matlin. That puts it at #56,836 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Matlin 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
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#56,836
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
359
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 359 bearers of the surname Matlin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 56836th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Matlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Matlin
The surname Matlin is believed to have originated in the Rhineland region of Germany in the early medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old German words "mattin" meaning "worthy" or "estimable," and "lind" meaning "soft" or "gentle." Thus, the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone with a kind and gentle demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the chronicles of the Abbey of St. Gall, which date back to the 9th century. Here, a monk by the name of Matelinus is mentioned as a respected scholar and scribe. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Matlin, Matlind, and Matlinger appearing in various records and documents.
In the 13th century, the Matlin name can be found in the records of the city of Cologne, where a certain Johannes Matlin is listed as a merchant and landowner. This suggests that the family had achieved a certain level of prosperity and social standing by that time.
The name also appears in the annals of the Teutonic Knights, a military order that played a significant role in the Crusades. In 1271, a knight named Konrad Matlin is recorded as having participated in the siege of Acre, a key battle in the Eighth Crusade.
Another notable figure with the Matlin surname was Hans Matlin, a German painter and engraver who lived in the 15th century. His works, which included religious scenes and portraits, were highly regarded in his time and can still be found in museums and private collections across Europe.
In the 16th century, the Matlin name gained further prominence with the birth of Johannes Matlin, a renowned mathematician and astronomer. Born in Nuremberg in 1519, Matlin made significant contributions to the fields of geometry and celestial mechanics, and his writings were widely studied by scholars of his era.
As the centuries passed, the Matlin name spread across various regions of Europe, with branches of the family settling in areas such as Switzerland, Austria, and even as far as England and Scotland. Prominent individuals bearing the name include Wilhelm Matlin, a Swiss military leader who fought in the Napoleonic Wars (1770-1846), and Sir Robert Matlin, an English industrialist and philanthropist who lived in the late 19th century (1832-1905).
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Matlin
Among Census respondents with the surname Matlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Matlin 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 Matlin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Matlin 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 | #56,836 | #56,836 | 0.0% |
| Count | 359 | 359 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Matlin bearers went from 359 to 359 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #56,836 to #56,836.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Matlin
FAQ
Matlin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Matlin?
The surname Matlin holds position #56,836 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Matlin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Matlin, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). 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.