Explore the Family Name Smolen
The meaning of Smolen
1. Polish (Smoleń): unflattering nickname for a dirty person, from Polish smolić się ‘to soil, make dirty’. Alternatively, an occupational name for person who produced tar, pitch burner (Old Polish smoleń ‘distilled tar, pitch’). Perhaps also a habitational name from any of the places called Smoleń, in Masovian and Silesian voivodeships. 2. Czech and Slovak (Slovak mostly Smoleň): nickname derived from Czech smolit (se), Slovak smoliť (sa) ‘to tar, to soil, make dirty’ (compare above).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Smolen in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Smolen saw slight fluctuations between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Smolen was ranked the 16,984th most popular surname in America, with 1,543 individuals bearing the name. By 2010, the rank had slipped slightly to 17,131, with a corresponding decrease in popularity by 0.87%. However, the actual count of people with the surname Smolen increased by 7.26% to 1,655 in 2010. The proportion of the surname per 100k also dropped marginally by 1.75%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,984 | #17,131 | -0.87% |
| Count | 1,543 | 1,655 | 7.26% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.57 | 0.56 | -1.75% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Smolen
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the surname Smolen, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the vast majority of bearers are of White ethnicity. In 2000, this figure stood at an overwhelming 97.73% which dropped minimally to 97.10% in 2010. Significant changes were observed in other ethnic identities; the Hispanic representation doubled from 0.52% in 2000 to 1.09% in 2010. People identifying as two or more races decreased slightly from 1.3% to 1.15%. Despite these shifts, the surname did not appear among Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native communities in 2000, but by 2010, there was a small percentage (0.54%) of Asian/Pacific Islanders bearing the name Smolen.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.73% | 97.1% | -0.64% |
| Two or More Races | 1.3% | 1.15% | -11.54% |
| Hispanic | 0.52% | 1.09% | 109.62% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.54% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |