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

Scallion, 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 Scallion surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Scallion in America

Scallion is the 36204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Scallion surname appeared 619 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 Scallion.

We can also compare 2010 data for Scallion 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 Scallion

The surname Scallion is a relatively uncommon one, originating in the British Isles during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "scealu," meaning a small shellfish or mollusk, and the suffix "-ion," indicating a diminutive or smaller form. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who gathered or sold small shellfish, perhaps as a profession.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Scallion name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in its Old English spelling, "Scelun," in reference to a landowner in the county of Kent.

During the 13th century, variations such as "Scalun" and "Scalloun" began to emerge in various parish records and tax rolls across England. It is possible that the name may have also been influenced by the Old French word "escalogne," which referred to a type of onion, leading to the modern spelling of "Scallion."

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Scallion name was John Scallion (c. 1510-1580), a merchant and alderman in the city of York. His descendants can be traced through various historical documents, including wills and property deeds.

Another significant figure was Sir Robert Scallion (1635-1702), a military officer who served under King Charles II during the English Civil War. He was knighted for his bravery and loyalty to the crown, and his family's coat of arms features a scallop shell, a likely nod to the name's origins.

In the 18th century, the Scallion name gained prominence in Scotland, with several notable figures emerging. One such individual was James Scallion (1720-1789), a philosopher and author who wrote extensively on moral and political philosophy. His works were widely read and influential during the Scottish Enlightenment.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Mary Scallion (1825-1896), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of the first schools for girls in London and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women.

While the Scallion surname may not be as widespread as some others, it has a rich and varied history spanning several centuries across the British Isles. Its origins and evolution reflect the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the English language and the naming traditions of these regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Scallion

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

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

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

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