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

Medlin, 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 Medlin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Medlin in America

Medlin is the 3338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Medlin surname appeared 10,750 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Medlin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Medlin 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 Medlin

The surname Medlin originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "midd," meaning "middle," and the suffix "-linge," denoting "a dweller or inhabitant." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in the middle of a particular area or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1292, which mentions a John Medlinge. The Feet of Fines were ancient legal documents that recorded land transfers and agreements.

In the 14th century, various spellings of the name appeared in historical records, such as Medlyng, Medlynge, and Medeling. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that period.

The Medlin surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Medling in Kent and Medlinge in Sussex. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa.

One notable individual bearing the Medlin name was John Medlin, born in 1608 in Bredfield, Suffolk, England. He later immigrated to America and settled in Virginia, becoming one of the first Medlins in the New World.

Another significant figure was Richard Medlin, born in 1620 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a Puritan minister who later became the rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire.

In the 18th century, William Medlin, born in 1725 in Wiltshire, England, gained recognition as a successful merchant and landowner. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the local community.

Thomas Medlin, born in 1782 in Somerset, England, was a renowned architect and builder. He designed several notable buildings, including the Medlin Manor in his hometown.

During the 19th century, Emily Medlin, born in 1845 in Dorset, England, made a name for herself as a celebrated author and poet. Her works often explored themes of nature and the English countryside.

While the Medlin surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants of early Medlin immigrants establishing themselves in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Medlin

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

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

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

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