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

Niland, 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 Niland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Niland in America

Niland is the 28437th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Niland surname appeared 839 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 Niland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Niland 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 Niland

The surname Niland originates from Ireland and is believed to have its roots in the medieval Gaelic language. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic words "Niadh" meaning "warrior" or "champion" and "lann" meaning "blade" or "sword." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a skilled swordsman or fighter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Niland can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, a man named Niall Ó Nialláin is mentioned as having been slain in the year 1439. This entry provides evidence of the surname's usage in the 15th century.

The Niland name has also been linked to various place names in Ireland, such as Niland in County Galway and Nilantown in County Kildare. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the Niland surname or may have served as the origins of the name itself.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Niland. One example is John Niland (1799-1865), an Irish-born prelate who served as the first Catholic Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut. Another is James Niland (1825-1904), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

In the field of literature, Charles Niland (1782-1841) was an Irish-born poet and essayist who published works such as "The Poems of Charles Niland" and "The Life and Poems of Charles Niland." Thomas Niland (1846-1911) was an Irish-born American Catholic priest and author, known for his book "The Niland Poems."

Additionally, the surname Niland has been associated with various military figures. For instance, Robert Niland (1918-1944) was an American soldier who served in World War II and was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during the Battle of Saipan.

While the surname Niland is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the medieval Irish language and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, politicians, authors, and military personnel.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Niland

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

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

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

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