Muslin last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Muslin

A surname derived from the word for a fine cotton fabric originating from Mosul, Iraq.

Muslin, 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 Muslin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Muslin in America

Muslin is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Muslin surname appeared 104 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Muslin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Muslin 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank15604412331423.43%
Count104129-21.46%
Proportion per 100k0.040.05-22.22%

The history of the last name Muslin

The surname "MUSLIN" originated in the Middle East, specifically in the regions of modern-day Iraq and Iran. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "muslin," which referred to a type of finely woven cotton fabric that was widely traded in the region.

The earliest known reference to the name "MUSLIN" can be traced back to the 9th century, when it appeared in various trade records and manuscripts documenting the cotton textile industry in the Middle East. During this time, the fabric muslin was highly sought after for its softness and lightweight, and merchants carrying this commodity became known by the name.

As the muslin trade expanded across Asia and Europe, the surname "MUSLIN" spread along with it. Historical records indicate that individuals bearing this name were present in various trading hubs and cities along the Silk Road, including Samarkand, Bukhara, and Baghdad.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "MUSLIN" was Abu al-Qasim al-Muslin, a renowned mathematician and astronomer who lived in Baghdad during the 9th century. Another notable figure was Mahmud al-Muslin, a 12th-century Persian poet and scholar from the city of Shiraz.

In Europe, the name "MUSLIN" is believed to have arrived through trade routes and settlements of merchants from the Middle East. One of the earliest documented instances was in the 14th century, when a merchant named Giacomo Muslin was recorded in the city of Venice, a major hub for the muslin trade at the time.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Muselino" in Italy and "Musliner" in Germany. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Muslin, an English merchant and explorer who traveled to India and brought back samples of muslin fabric in the 16th century.

Another prominent figure was Eliza Muslin, a 19th-century English writer and women's rights activist who advocated for educational reforms and the abolition of slavery. She was born in 1790 and passed away in 1865.

Throughout history, the surname "MUSLIN" has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including traders, scholars, artists, and professionals, reflecting the global reach and impact of the muslin textile industry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Muslin

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

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 Muslin was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only84.62%88
Non-Hispanic Black Only7.69%8
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races4.81%5
Hispanic Origin(S)%(S)

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 Muslin has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White84.62%82.17%2.94%
Black7.69%4.65%49.27%
Asian and Pacific Islander(S)%0.00%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0.00%0.00%
Two or More Races4.81%8.53%-55.77%
Hispanic(S)%4.65%(S)%

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

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

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