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

Molnar, 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 Molnar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Molnar in America

Molnar is the 4131st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Molnar surname appeared 8,586 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 Molnar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Molnar 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 Molnar

The surname Molnar originated in Hungary, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Hungarian word "molnár," which means "miller" or someone who operates a mill. This occupational surname likely arose when it became hereditary to distinguish families and establish lineages.

During the Middle Ages, the name Molnar appeared in various Hungarian records and manuscripts, often associated with individuals involved in the milling trade or residing near mills. One notable early reference is found in the Codex of Lelesz, a 14th-century compilation of legal documents, where a certain Molnar family is mentioned in connection with a land dispute.

In the 16th century, the name Molnar gained prominence with the birth of Gergely Molnar (1516-1601), a Hungarian Reformation leader and writer who played a crucial role in the translation of the Bible into Hungarian. His works and influence helped solidify the Molnar surname as a respected and recognized name within Hungarian society.

Another prominent figure bearing the Molnar surname was Ferenc Molnar (1878-1952), a renowned Hungarian playwright and novelist. His plays, such as "The Guardsman" and "Liliom," earned him international acclaim and were widely performed on stages across Europe and the United States.

In the realm of music, Antal Molnar (1890-1983) was a celebrated Hungarian composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the development of Hungarian folk music and classical compositions. His works, including operas and orchestral pieces, have been performed by prestigious ensembles worldwide.

The Molnar surname has also been associated with notable figures in other fields, such as Sandor Molnar (1936-1997), a Hungarian-American mathematician and computer scientist who made important contributions to the field of graph theory and combinatorics.

While the surname Molnar originated in Hungary, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the rich cultural and historical traditions of Hungary, where it continues to be a prominent and respected name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Molnar

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

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

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

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