The Linn surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 12,508 people carried this name — #2,876 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 23,600 people counted. That is up 3% from 12,178 in 2000.

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In the Nordic population registers

27 people named Linn is counted in Sweden.

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

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 27

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

Linn was recorded 10 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1929th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 11. 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 the first U.S. census, 1790

151 families named Linn, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 833 people lived in those households, 5.5 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 13 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 62
North Carolina 19
Massachusetts 16
Connecticut 9
South Carolina 9
Vermont 8
Maryland 8
Virginia 8
New York 7
New Hampshire 3
Maine 1
Rhode Island 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 250 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Linn in American newspapers,
1789–1909.

Newspaper page from The Daily Missoulian carrying the name Linn
The Daily Missoulian 1909-04-01
Newspaper page from The Havre Herald carrying the name Linn
The Havre Herald 1905-05-19
Newspaper page from The New-hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser carrying the name Linn
The New-hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser 1789-05-14

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 8,702 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Linn in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

16,182 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Linn. The most, 3,145, date from the 1920s. Victoria has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 2.2 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 4,863
South Australia 4,337
New South Wales 4,211
Queensland 1,804
Western Australia 481
Tasmania 445
ACT (Canberra) 25
Northern Territory 2

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

Who carried it

People named Linn,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Ben Linn
    Ben Linn d. 1925 · actor
  • William Linn
    William Linn 1752–1808 · priest
  • Lewis F. Linn
    Lewis F. Linn 1796–1843 · politician
  • Charles Linn
    Charles Linn 1814–1882 · sailor
  • Alonzo Linn d. 1901 · university teacher
  • James Linn 1749–1821 · judge

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Linn,
in the records of 9 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 States1,570 records

1,570 records of the Linn name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 505
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 346
  • Other U.S. records 719
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Byron R. Linn

    Born 1920 in Indiana. Enlisted 1945 at Indianapolis; office clerk from Kosciusko County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, Indiana.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1891 aboard the Eider from Bremen and Southampton, aged 29; tourist. From Russia; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record David William Linn

    Born 1942; from Anaheim, California. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1967 in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,570 records for Linn in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · 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) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Germany222 records

222 records of the Linn name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Aloys Linn

    From Altenkessel, Trier. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 24 September 1915 (Infantry Regiment No. 166).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Paul Linn

    From Dresden. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 12 February 1919 (Field Artillery Regiment No. 1).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Wilhelm Linn

    From Schopp, Pfalz. Listed as returned from captivity in the Bavarian casualty list of 26 April 1919.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 222 records for Linn in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Netherlands212 records

212 records of the Linn name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 102
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 102
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 8
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Joseph Linn

    Married in 1920 in Kerkrade; miner. Died 1941 in Kerkrade, aged 44.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gemeentearchief Kerkrade (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Emile Wilhelm Linn

    Married in 1906 in Bussum; office clerk. Died 1957 in Bussum, aged 81.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Piet Linn

    Married in 1932 in Haarlem; merchant. Died 1968 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 57.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 212 records for Linn in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia190 records

190 records of the Linn name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 118
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 27
  • Other Australian records 45
  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 Thomas Linn

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Recovery, arriving 1836.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  2. 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 Masters Linn

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Pilot in 1817.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Geo Linn

    Arrived in Victoria in 1886 aboard the Salier, aged 20; British subject.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 190 records for Linn in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (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); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Norway24 records

24 records of the Linn name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Oskar E. Linn

    Census of 1910: Elstad, Øier; farm labourer, born 1894 in Øier.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Magda Lovise Linn

    Census of 1910: Elstad, Øier; housemaid, born 1883 in Øier.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Johannes S. Linn

    Census of 1910: Ebbells gate, Kristiania; machinist, born 1846 in Rakkestad.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 3 of 24 records for Linn in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Canada14 records

14 records of the Linn name in Canada
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 4
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 4
  • Other Canadian records 6
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Linn

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Canadian, landing at Quebec, bound for Burford, Ontario; Scotch.

    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 Andrew Steele Linn

    Buried in 1996 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 76.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Loretta Colleen Margaret Linn

    Buried in 1984 at Parkview Cemetery, Waterloo, Ontario.

    Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence

Showing 3 of 14 records for Linn in Canada.

Counts: Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. 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).

United Kingdom10 records

10 records of the Linn name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 5
  • Stirling Council burial records 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Linn

    Buried in 1941 at Killearn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 77.

    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. A. Linn

    Gunner, West Yorkshire Regiment. 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 Ann Linn

    Died 1931, aged 77; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

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

Showing 3 of 10 records for Linn 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).

France9 records

9 records of the Linn 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 Yvonne Henriette Marie Linn

    Born 1906 in Montigny-lès-Metz; died 1990 in Metz (Moselle).

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

    Born 1944 in La Ferrière-Bochard; died 2000 in Saint-Germain-du-Corbéis (Orne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 9 records for Linn 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).

New Zealand6 records

6 records of the Linn name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 5
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Blenda Linn

    Died 1913, aged 59; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Richard Linn

    Died 1911, aged 73; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 6 records for Linn in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Linn.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Linn 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.

See the Linn volume
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