Explore the Family Name Valen
The meaning of Valen
Norwegian: habitational name from any of several farmsteads, notably along the coast from Hordaland and northward, from Old Norse vathill ‘ford’, denoting shallow water, for example in a bay or strait. Compare Walen.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Valen in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Valen has slightly decreased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 53,904 in popularity, while by 2010 it dropped to a rank of 54,864, marking a minor change of -1.78%. Despite the dip in ranking, the count of people with the Valen surname actually increased from 359 in 2000 to 375 in 2010, indicating a 4.46% growth. The proportion of individuals named Valen per 100k remained stable at 0.13 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #53,904 | #54,864 | -1.78% |
| Count | 359 | 375 | 4.46% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Valen
In terms of ethnic identity, significant changes are observed within the Valen surname bearers. Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the percentage identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander more than doubled from 2.79% in 2000 to 5.87% in 2010. The identification as Hispanic also grew by 16.95%, reaching 11.73% in 2010. For the first time in 2010, some individuals identified as Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native, accounting for 3.73% and 1.87% respectively. On the other hand, the percentage of those identifying as White and those reporting two or more races declined by 7.53% and 56.54% respectively.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.62% | 75.47% | -7.53% |
| Hispanic | 10.03% | 11.73% | 16.95% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.79% | 5.87% | 110.39% |
| Black | 0% | 3.73% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1.87% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 3.06% | 1.33% | -56.54% |