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

Spurlin, 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 Spurlin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spurlin in America

Spurlin is the 10088th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spurlin surname appeared 3,195 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Spurlin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spurlin 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 Spurlin

The surname Spurlin is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "spore," meaning a trace or track, and "hlinc," meaning a ridge or hill. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a ridge or hill with some sort of path or track leading to it.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Spurlinge." This entry refers to a location in Berkshire, indicating that the name was likely associated with a specific place or landholding at that time.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings such as "Spurling," "Spurlynge," and "Sperling." These variations can be found in various historical records and documents from that period, including tax rolls, court proceedings, and parish registers.

One notable individual with the surname Spurlin was John Spurlin, a merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire in the late 15th century. Records show that he was involved in trade with other parts of Europe and held considerable property in the region.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the records of the College of Arms, which oversaw heraldry and genealogy in England. A coat of arms was granted to the Spurlin family of Warwickshire, indicating their status and prominence at the time.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Spurlin, a military officer who served in the English Civil War during the 17th century. He fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was involved in several significant battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

During the 18th century, the name Spurlin appeared in various parish records and census listings across various counties in England, including Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. This suggests that the name had spread to different regions by that time.

In the 19th century, the Spurlin surname can be found in the records of various institutions and organizations, such as universities and professional societies. For example, William Spurlin was a prominent lawyer and author who wrote extensively on legal matters and was admitted to the Inner Temple in London in 1832.

Throughout its history, the surname Spurlin has been associated with various occupations and professions, including agriculture, trade, military service, and law. While the name has retained its English roots, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spurlin

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

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

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

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