Find out how popular the last name Achan is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Achan.

Achan, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Achan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Achan in America

Achan is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Achan surname appeared 137 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Achan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Achan to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Achan

The surname Achan has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in ancient Syria and Palestine. It is believed to be derived from the Hebrew name "Achan" or "Achar," which means "troubler" or "disturber."

The earliest recorded mention of the name Achan can be found in the Book of Joshua in the Hebrew Bible, where a man named Achan is accused of violating the ban on taking spoils from the conquered city of Jericho. This event is believed to have occurred around the 13th century BCE.

In the Middle Ages, the name Achan appeared in various forms across the Mediterranean region, including Achan, Achan, and Acan. These variations were likely influenced by the languages and dialects of the areas where the name was used.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Achan was Abu Bakr al-Achan, a 10th-century Arab mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. He is known for his contributions to the field of spherical trigonometry and his work on the calculation of celestial motions.

Another notable figure with the surname Achan was Judah ben Samuel Achan, a 13th-century Spanish Talmudic scholar and philosopher. He was born in Seville and is known for his commentary on the Talmud and his work on Jewish law.

In the 14th century, the name Achan appeared in various records across Europe, including in the Domesday Book of England, where it is listed as "Achan" in the county of Lincolnshire.

During the Renaissance period, the name Achan was also associated with the Italian city of Achan, located in the region of Piedmont. This city's name is believed to be derived from the same root as the surname Achan, though the exact connection is unclear.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Achan was Jean-Baptiste Achan, a 17th-century French painter and engraver. He was born in Paris in 1616 and is known for his religious paintings and etchings, many of which can be found in churches and museums across France.

In the 19th century, the name Achan was also associated with the British explorer and naturalist James Achan, who was born in Yorkshire in 1823. He is remembered for his expeditions to South America, where he studied the flora and fauna of the region, and his contributions to the field of natural history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Achan

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Achan.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Achan was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Achan has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Achan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Achan, please contact us.

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