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

Modlin, 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 Modlin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Modlin in America

Modlin is the 12362nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Modlin surname appeared 2,515 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 Modlin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Modlin 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 Modlin

The surname Modlin is of Polish origin, tracing its roots back to the late medieval period in the region of Mazovia, located in central-eastern Poland. It is derived from the Old Polish word "modła," meaning "prayer" or "supplication." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive surname for someone associated with religious practices or a place of worship.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Księga sądowa miasta Nowego Sącza" (The Court Book of the Town of Nowy Sącz) from the 15th century, where a certain "Jan Modlin" is mentioned. This document provides valuable insight into the name's usage and prevalence in that era.

The name Modlin is also closely linked to the town of Modlin, situated along the Narew River in the Mazovian Voivodeship. This town, formerly known as Nowe Miasto Modlin or Nowy Modlin, dates back to the 14th century and was likely named after the river or a local landowner bearing the Modlin surname.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the "Księgi grodzkie sandomierskie" (The Town Books of Sandomierz), further solidifying its presence in the region. One notable individual from this period was Wojciech Modlin (c. 1510-1572), a Polish theologian and Calvinist reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Poland.

During the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Jan Modlin (1630-1695), a Polish military officer and nobleman who served as the Grand Crown Marshal of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. His service and achievements contributed to the recognition of the Modlin name among the Polish nobility.

Another prominent figure was Andrzej Modlin (1745-1823), a Polish painter and engraver who was known for his religious works and portraits. His artistic contributions helped preserve the cultural and artistic heritage of Poland during a turbulent period in its history.

In the 19th century, the Modlin surname continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as Ignacy Modlin (1815-1888), a Polish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early photographic techniques and processes.

Throughout the centuries, the Modlin name has been closely intertwined with the history and culture of Poland, reflecting the country's rich heritage and the diverse backgrounds of its people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Modlin

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

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

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

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