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

Train, 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 Train surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Train in America

Train is the 28883rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Train surname appeared 823 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 Train.

We can also compare 2010 data for Train 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 Train

The surname Train has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "traine," which means "to drag" or "to trail." This name was likely given as an occupational surname to someone who worked as a hauler or drayman, transporting goods by dragging them along the ground or on a simple sledge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Train can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1195, where a person named Roger le Treine is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in parts of central England by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Trayne, Treyn, and Traine, reflecting the evolving orthography of the time. One notable example is Robert le Treine, who was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Middlesex in 1212.

The Train surname has also been linked to certain place names, particularly the village of Treen in Cornwall, which derives its name from the Cornish word "tre," meaning a homestead or settlement. This suggests that some bearers of the surname may have originated from this area or nearby regions.

Among the notable historical figures with the surname Train, one can mention:

1. Sir John Train (c. 1435 - 1506), a Scottish nobleman and Lord Treasurer of Scotland during the reign of King James IV.

2. Robert Train (c. 1595 - 1661), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh.

3. Joseph Train (1779 - 1852), a Scottish antiquarian and writer, known for his works on the history and antiquities of the Scottish Borders.

4. George Francis Train (1829 - 1904), an American entrepreneur, author, and eccentric who became famous for his global travels and self-promotion.

5. Arthur Train (1875 - 1945), an American lawyer, legal scholar, and author of mystery novels, including the popular "Mr. Tutt" series.

The Train surname has been present in various parts of the British Isles and has been carried by individuals from different walks of life, including nobility, clergy, scholars, and authors, reflecting its diverse origins and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Train

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

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

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

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