The Devlin surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 13,014 people carried this name — #2,774 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 22,700 people counted. That is up 4% from 12,460 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Devlin surname

From Irish Ó Duibhlin.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Devlin» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 112 births for the Devlin name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 5,000 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 10 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 88
Leinster 19
Munster 3
Connacht 2

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

20 people named Devlin is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 20

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland’s registers today

Devlin was recorded 85 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 310th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 134. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Devlin in American newspapers,
1888–1920.

Newspaper page from Great Falls Daily Tribune carrying the name Devlin
Great Falls Daily Tribune 1920-11-23
Newspaper page from Great Falls Tribune carrying the name Devlin
Great Falls Tribune 1888-06-20
Newspaper page from Great Falls Tribune carrying the name Devlin
Great Falls Tribune 1888-11-03

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 5,075 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Devlin in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

56,397 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Devlin. The most, 11,464, date from the 1910s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in New South Wales, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 25,817
Victoria 10,478
Queensland 7,229
Western Australia 4,519
Tasmania 3,995
South Australia 3,710
ACT (Canberra) 542
Northern Territory 31

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Devlin.

Who carried it

People named Devlin,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Anne Devlin
    Anne Devlin 1780–1851
  • Bernard Devlin
    Bernard Devlin 1824–1880 · lawyer
  • Jim Devlin
    Jim Devlin 1849–1883 · baseball player
  • Charles Ramsay Devlin
    Charles Ramsay Devlin 1858–1914 · politician
  • Jim Devlin
    Jim Devlin 1866–1900 · baseball player

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 204 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Devlin,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States4,744 records

4,744 records of the Devlin name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,784
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,256
  • Other U.S. records 1,704
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Joseph William Devlin

    Born 1943; from Merrick, New York. U.S. Marine Corps, pilot ch-46 qualified; killed in action 1970 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam. Buried at Barrancas National Cemetery, Florida.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John J. Devlin

    Born 1904 in New York. Enlisted 1940 at Jamaica; lineman from New York County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1970, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Bridget Devlin

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Majestic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 18; servant. From Birmingham, England; bound for Boston.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 4,744 records for Devlin in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,029 records

1,029 records of the Devlin name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 364
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 224
  • Other Australian records 441
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Jane Devlin

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Greenlaw, sailing from Dublin in 1844. Native of Armagh. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1846.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Henry Thomas Devlin

    Born 1865 in Port Sorell, Tasmania. Married 1888 in Ulverstone, Tasmania, aged 23.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Muriel Ivy Devlin

    Born 1909 in Zeehan, Tasmania. Died 1934 in Tasmania, aged 25.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,029 records for Devlin in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada117 records

117 records of the Devlin name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 42
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 25
  • Other Canadian records 50
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jas Devlin

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Mississippi, landing at Boston, bound for Scarboro, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Mary Paton Devlin

    Buried in 1987 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 68.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Eldin John Devlin

    Died 1966 in Upper Onslow, Colchester, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 117 records for Devlin in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom66 records

66 records of the Devlin name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 34
  • Stirling Council burial records 32
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Devlin

    Buried in 1915 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 52.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Devlin

    Lance Corporal, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Francis Devlin

    Died 1935, aged 56; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 66 records for Devlin in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand15 records

15 records of the Devlin name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 10
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 3
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ellen Devlin

    Died 1941, aged 60; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Francis Edward Devlin

    Born 1911, died 1994; ashes interred at Rangiora Lawn Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Devlin

    Died 1929, aged 96; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Devlin in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France4 records

4 records of the Devlin name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Rene Lucien Alexis Devlin

    Born 1930 in Saint-Fromond (Manche); died 1996 in Caen (Calvados).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Desmond John Devlin

    Born 1926 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Metz (Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Devlin in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands3 records

3 records of the Devlin name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register John Devlin

    In the population register of Magherafelt (Noord-Ierland); born 1886 in Magherafelt (Noord-Ierland).

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Mary Devlin

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1900 in Kilhoyle.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Devlin in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Ireland1 record

1 record of the Devlin name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Samuel Devlin

    Died 1973; buried at Rakerin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Devlin.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Devlin is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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