Mirkin
A surname derived from the Yiddish word "mir", meaning "peace" or "serenity".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 514 Americans carry the last name Mirkin. That puts it at #48,800 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 666,837 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mirkin 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
514
1 in 666,837
Census rank
#48,800
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
432
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 432 bearers of the surname Mirkin in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 48800th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mirkin, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mirkin
The surname Mirkin is of Russian origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Russian word "mir," meaning peace or world, and the diminutive suffix "-kin," suggesting a connection to a small or humble village or community.
One of the earliest known references to the Mirkin name can be found in the Velvet Book, a record of noble families in Russia dating back to the late 16th century. This document mentions a family with the surname Mirkin, residing in the region around Moscow.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Mirkin surname began to spread throughout various regions of Russia, particularly in the central and western areas. Some historical records from this period mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Mirkov and Mirkoff.
In the 19th century, the Mirkin surname gained prominence with the birth of Grigory Mirkin (1826-1898), a renowned Russian chemist and inventor. Mirkin is credited with developing several innovative methods for the production of matches and pyrotechnics, revolutionizing the industry at the time.
Another notable figure with the Mirkin surname was Yakov Mirkin (1892-1955), a Russian-born American playwright and screenwriter. Mirkin immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century and contributed to several Broadway productions and Hollywood films during his career.
In the literary world, the name Mirkin is associated with the Russian writer and poet Dmitry Mirkin (1901-1975), who was part of the avant-garde movement in the early Soviet era. His works explored themes of urban life and societal changes during that period.
The Mirkin surname also gained recognition in the field of academia with the mathematician and computer scientist Boris Mirkin (1939-present), known for his contributions to data analysis and clustering algorithms.
Another prominent figure bearing the Mirkin name is Chad Mirkin (1963-present), an American chemist and nanotechnology pioneer. Mirkin has made significant advancements in the field of nanomaterials and their applications in various industries.
While the Mirkin surname originated in Russia, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots can be traced back to the peaceful origins and humble beginnings associated with its etymology.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mirkin
Among Census respondents with the surname Mirkin, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Mirkin 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 Mirkin surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.2%
- Hispanic or Latino5.3%
- Unknown or suppressed0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mirkin 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #46,426 | #48,800 | -5.1% |
| Count | 432 | 432 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.15 | -6.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mirkin bearers went from 432 to 432 (+0.0% change). The surname moved down 2,374 positions in the national ranking, going from #46,426 to #48,800.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mirkin
FAQ
Mirkin surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mirkin?
The surname Mirkin holds position #48,800 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 514 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mirkin surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mirkin, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%). 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.