Modine
From a French surname meaning "from Modine", a town in northeastern France.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Modine. That puts it at #86,005 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Modine 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#86,005
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
217
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 217 bearers of the surname Modine in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 86005th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Modine, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Modine
The surname Modine is believed to have originated in France, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 16th century. It is thought to be a variation of the French surname Modin or Modine, which itself is derived from the Old French word "motte," meaning a small hill or mound. This suggests that the name may have been initially applied to someone who lived near or on such a geographical feature.
In the region of Normandy, France, there are several place names that incorporate the root "motte," such as Mottevillers and Motteville. It is possible that the Modine surname arose in one of these areas and was later adopted by families who migrated to other parts of France or Europe.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Modine name was Jean Modine, who was born in the village of Coucy-le-Château, Aisne, France, in 1592. Records show that he worked as a farmer and lived in the area until his death in 1657.
Another notable figure with the Modine surname was Pierre Modine, a French soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). He was born in Sedan, Ardennes, in 1610 and served under the command of Prince Frederick Henry of Orange. Pierre Modine died in battle near the city of Rocroi in 1643.
In the 18th century, a family by the name of Modine settled in the town of Lunéville, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France. One member of this family, Jacques Modine (1732-1796), became a respected clockmaker and watchmaker in the region.
As the Modine surname spread across Europe, it also made its way to England, where it appeared in various spelling variations, such as Modine, Modyn, and Modine. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England is found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a man named William Modyn was mentioned in 1611.
Another notable bearer of the Modine surname was Sir Thomas Modine (1688-1762), an English landowner and Member of Parliament who represented the borough of Bramber in Sussex from 1722 to 1727.
While the Modine name has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with bearers of the surname found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Modine
Among Census respondents with the surname Modine, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Modine 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 Modine surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.3%
- Hispanic or Latino5.1%
- Unknown or suppressed4.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Modine 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 | #72,466 | #86,005 | -18.7% |
| Count | 250 | 217 | -13.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.09 | 0.07 | -22.2% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Modine bearers went from 250 to 217 (-13.2% change). The surname moved down 13,539 positions in the national ranking, going from #72,466 to #86,005.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Modine
FAQ
Modine surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Modine?
The surname Modine holds position #86,005 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Modine surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Modine, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.1%). 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.