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

Moen, 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 Moen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Moen in America

Moen is the 4367th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Moen surname appeared 8,138 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Moen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Moen 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 Moen

The surname Moen originates from Norway, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "mór," meaning "moor" or "marsh," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or worked in a marshy area.

One of the earliest known records of the name Moen appears in the 1598 census of Telemark, Norway, where a farmer named Ole Moen is listed. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name Moen began to spread beyond Norway, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in Denmark and Sweden. This was likely due to migration and trade between the Scandinavian countries during that time period.

During the 19th century, as immigration from Scandinavia to North America increased, the surname Moen became more prevalent in the United States and Canada. One notable individual from this era was Hans Olaus Moen (1824-1896), a Norwegian immigrant who settled in Wisconsin and became a prominent farmer and community leader.

Another historical figure bearing the Moen surname was Olaf Moen (1865-1939), a Norwegian-American painter and illustrator known for his depictions of Scandinavian folklore and landscapes.

In the early 20th century, a family of Norwegian descent named Moen played a significant role in the plumbing industry. Adolph Moen (1885-1983) founded the Moen Incorporated company in 1937, which became a leading manufacturer of faucets and other plumbing products.

Sverre Moen (1894-1969) was a Norwegian explorer and writer who led several expeditions to Greenland and the Arctic regions in the early-to-mid 20th century. His books and accounts of his travels contributed to the understanding of these remote areas.

Lastly, Knut Moen (1900-1982) was a Norwegian athlete who competed in the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the 4x100 meter relay event in 1928.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the surname Moen, reflecting its Norwegian origins and the diverse fields in which bearers of this name have made their mark.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Moen

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

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

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

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