NameCensus.

UK surname

Berlin

A toponymic surname denoting someone from the city of Berlin, Germany, or any of several other places named Berlin.

In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Berlin surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, up from #30,609 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, East Dorset and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berlin is 130 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 457.1%.

1881 census count

21

Ranked #30,609

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

2010

130 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Berlin had 21 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,609 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 92 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Berlin surname distribution map

The map shows where the Berlin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Berlin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Berlin over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 18 #30,094
1861 historical 39 #29,099
1881 historical 21 #30,609
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 72 #26,162
1911 historical 92 #23,580
1997 modern 106 #26,057
1998 modern 125 #24,198
1999 modern 128 #24,017
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 123 #24,497
2004 modern 129 #24,019
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 114 #27,363
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 126 #26,148
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 117 #28,109
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

Back to top

Where Berlins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, East Dorset, Redbridge, Westminster and Hertsmere. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 037 Barnet
2 East Dorset 005 East Dorset
3 Redbridge 012 Redbridge
4 Westminster 012 Westminster
5 Hertsmere 010 Hertsmere

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Berlin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Berlin surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Berlin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berlin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Berlin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Berlin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Berlin is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Berlin is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Berlin falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Berlin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Berlin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Berlin

The surname BERLIN is of German origin, deriving from the name of the capital city of Germany. The name is thought to have originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

The name BERLIN is derived from the Old Polabian word 'berl', meaning 'swamp', referring to the area's geography in the early days of the settlement. It was also recorded as 'Berlijn' in Dutch and 'Berlino' in Italian during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name BERLIN can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the 13th century. The name appears in reference to individuals residing in or originating from the city of Berlin.

Historically, the BERLIN surname was often associated with merchants, traders, and craftsmen who had moved from the city of Berlin to other parts of Europe. Some notable individuals bearing the BERLIN surname include:

1. Jacob BERLIN (1499-1566), a German merchant and financier, known for his involvement in the trade between Germany and the Netherlands.

2. Abraham BERLIN (1663-1735), a German-Dutch merchant and banker, who played a significant role in the establishment of the Dutch East India Company.

3. Johann BERLIN (1677-1749), a German painter and engraver, known for his religious and allegorical works.

4. Moses BERLIN (1809-1867), a German-American physician and writer, who published several works on medical topics.

5. Irving BERLIN (1888-1989), a renowned American composer and lyricist, best known for his contributions to musical theater and popular music, including classics like "White Christmas" and "God Bless America".

The BERLIN surname has also been associated with various place names throughout history, such as Berlin-Brandenburg, a former state in Prussia, and Berlin, Connecticut, a town in the United States named after the German city.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Berlin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berlin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 14 Berlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 6.84x
Essex 3 7.42x
Berkshire 1 6.51x
Lancashire 1 0.41x
Staffordshire 1 1.45x
Surrey 1 1.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 6 Berlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.68x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 6 52.68x
St Luke London 4 121.95x
Leyton 3 428.57x
Shoreditch London 2 22.52x
St Anne Soho London 2 170.94x
Barnes 1 238.10x
New Windsor 1 192.31x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 13.64x
Wigan 1 29.41x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Berlin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Helena 1
Martha 1
Mary 1
Matilda 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Berlin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Isaac 2
Edward 1
Emmanuel 1
Gabriel 1
Joachin 1
John 1
Leopold 1
Nathan 1
Norman 1
Richard 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Berlin households.

FAQ

Berlin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Berlin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Berlin surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Berlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Berlin a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Berlin surname mean?

A toponymic surname denoting someone from the city of Berlin, Germany, or any of several other places named Berlin.

What does the Berlin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Berlin bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.