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

Mullins, 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 Mullins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mullins in America

Mullins is the 463rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mullins surname appeared 71,646 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 24 people would have the surname Mullins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mullins 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 Mullins

The surname Mullins is an English name that originated in medieval times. It is derived from the Old English word "muln" or "mulne," meaning a mill or grinding mill. This suggests that the original bearers of the name were likely associated with the operation or ownership of a mill.

In the early days, the name appeared in various spellings, including Mulin, Mullin, and Mullyn. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions during that period.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century. One notable example is found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where a certain William Mullin is mentioned.

The Mullins name has also been linked to certain place names. For instance, the village of Mullinburn in Hertfordshire, England, may have derived its name from the Mullins family who resided there.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Mullins surname. One such person was Giles Mullins (c. 1550 - c. 1600), an English merchant and one of the earliest settlers of Virginia in the United States.

Another prominent figure was Priscilla Mullins (c. 1602 - c. 1680), who was among the Mayflower passengers and one of the few survivors of the harsh first winter in the Plymouth Colony.

In the world of literature, Mary Mullins (1914 - 1988) was an American writer and poet, best known for her Newbery Medal-winning book "A Ring of Endless Light."

The arts have also seen notable Mullins, such as Robert Mullins (1925 - 2008), an American painter and printmaker renowned for his abstract expressionist works.

Lastly, in the realm of sports, Terrance Mullins (born 1959) was a professional basketball player who played in the NBA for several teams, including the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.

While the Mullins name has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread globally, with bearers of this surname found in various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mullins

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

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

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

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