Explore the Family Name Arlen
The meaning of Arlen
Alsatian (Bas-Rhin): probably a derivative of the ancient Germanic personal name Erl ‘free man, noble warrior’. History: The surname Arlen was borne by or adopted by several well known Americans, e.g. the composer of popular music Harold Arlen (1905–86) whose original surname was Arluck, which is of obscure origin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Arlen in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Arlen has seen a downward trend between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the name was ranked 43,708th in terms of its prevalence, but by 2010, it had slipped to 54,418th, representing a decline of 24.5%. Similarly, the number of people bearing this surname decreased from 465 in 2000 to 379 in 2010, a drop of 18.49%. This decrease is reflected in the proportion per 100k population as well, which went down from 0.17 in 2000 to 0.13 in 2010, marking a dip of 23.53%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #43,708 | #54,418 | -24.5% |
| Count | 465 | 379 | -18.49% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.13 | -23.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Arlen
From an ethnic identity perspective, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that those with the surname Arlen predominantly identify as White, accounting for 94.19% in 2000 and slipping slightly to 93.67% in 2010. The next largest group identifies as Black, but their representation saw a significant decrease from 2.58% in 2000 to 1.32% in 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying with two or more races also fell from 1.94% in 2000 to 1.32% in 2010. Interestingly, while there were no individuals identifying as Hispanic in 2000, this category emerged in 2010, accounting for 2.64% of the Arlens. There were no individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.19% | 93.67% | -0.55% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.64% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.94% | 1.32% | -31.96% |
| Black | 2.58% | 1.32% | -48.84% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |