2010
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Prin
Of French origin, meaning ruler or prince.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 133 Americans carry the last name Prin. That puts it at #145,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,577,100 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Prin surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Prin with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
133
1 in 2,577,100
Census rank
#145,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
116
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 116 bearers of the surname Prin in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Prin, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (18.1%) and Hispanic (12.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Prin
The surname PRIN originated in France during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Normandy. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "pren," which means "to take" or "to seize." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who had a tendency to take or seize things, possibly a tax collector or a soldier.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the PRIN surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a great survey commissioned by William the Conqueror to record land ownership and wealth in England. The name is listed as "Prin," indicating its Norman origins.
During the 12th century, the PRIN family established itself in various parts of France, including Brittany and Anjou. In 1187, a knight named Raoul PRIN fought in the Third Crusade under the command of Richard the Lionheart.
In the 13th century, the PRIN name was associated with several notable figures. Philippe PRIN (1210-1278) was a French philosopher and theologian who taught at the University of Paris. Jean PRIN (1233-1291) was a prominent architect who oversaw the construction of several churches and castles in the Loire Valley.
During the 14th century, the PRIN family expanded its influence in the region of Burgundy. In 1342, a nobleman named Hugues PRIN was recorded as the Lord of Beaune, a prestigious title at the time.
The 15th century saw the emergence of a renowned PRIN family in the city of Lyon. Antoine PRIN (1431-1498) was a successful merchant and banker who played a significant role in the city's economic development. His son, Jacques PRIN (1470-1529), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent figure in the silk trade.
In the 16th century, the PRIN name gained recognition in the realm of literature. François PRIN (1524-1591) was a celebrated poet and playwright who authored several works inspired by classical Greek and Roman literature.
Throughout its history, the PRIN surname has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For instance, the village of Pringy in eastern France was once known as "Prigny," reflecting the surname's evolution over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Prin
Among Census respondents with the surname Prin, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (18.1%) and Hispanic (12.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Prin bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Prin surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White62.1% · 72
- Asian and Pacific Islander18.1% · 21
- Hispanic or Latino12.1% · 14
- Black or African American7.8% · 9
Timeline
Historical Census data for Prin
Prin appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#145,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+14 bearers (+13.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 13,404 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #145,028 | 116 | 0.04 | +14 bearers (+13.7%) | Up 13,404 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Prin surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #158,432 | #145,028 | 8.5% |
| Count | 102 | 116 | 13.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 29.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Prin bearers went from 102 to 116 (+13.7% change). The surname moved up 13,404 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #145,028.
FAQ
Prin surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Prin?
Name Census estimates that about 133 living Americans carry the surname Prin. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,577,100 residents.
How common is Prin?
Prin ranks #145,028 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 116 people with the surname Prin. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (133), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Prin.
Has Prin become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Prin went from 102 recorded bearers to 116. That is an increase of 14 (+13.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #145,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Prin?
Among Census respondents with the surname Prin, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (18.1%) and Hispanic (12.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Prin in the 2020 Census, accounting for 62.1% (72 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Prin appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (62.1%), Asian/Pacific Islander (18.1%), Hispanic (12.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Prin (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Prin mean?
Of French origin, meaning ruler or prince. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Prin (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Prin?
You can see how many people have the surname Prin on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.