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

Melin, 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 Melin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melin in America

Melin is the 13107th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melin surname appeared 2,339 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Melin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melin 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 Melin

The surname Melin is of French origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "molin," meaning mill or windmill. The name likely originated in areas of northern France where milling was a common occupation, such as Normandy or Brittany.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Melin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. It lists several individuals with the surname Melin, indicating that the name had already spread to England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Jean Melin was a French architect and engineer who worked on several notable projects, including the construction of the Château Gaillard in Normandy for King Richard the Lionheart.

During the Middle Ages, the name Melin was sometimes spelled with variations such as Melyn, Mellin, or Melin. These variations often reflected regional dialects or the preference of the individual scribes who recorded the name.

In the 16th century, a French explorer named Pierre Melin was among the first Europeans to establish settlements in what is now Canada. He founded the town of Tadoussac in Quebec in 1600, which became an important trading post for the fur trade.

Another notable individual with the surname Melin was Jacques Melin, a French painter and engraver who lived in the 17th century. He is best known for his engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects.

Other historical figures with the surname Melin include Marie-Anne Melin, a French opera singer who performed in the 18th century, and Joseph Melin, a Belgian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 19th century.

Throughout history, the surname Melin has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting its origins as a name related to milling and the production of flour. While the name is most prevalent in France and countries with French cultural influence, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melin

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

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

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

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