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

Adan, 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 Adan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Adan in America

Adan is the 9155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Adan surname appeared 3,564 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Adan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Adan 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 Adan

The surname ADAN has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, when these areas were under the influence of Arabic culture due to the Moorish conquest.

The name ADAN is derived from the Arabic name "Adan," which itself is a variation of the Hebrew name "Adán," meaning "of the earth" or "earthly." This connection suggests that the surname may have been initially adopted by individuals of Arabic or Semitic descent who lived in the Iberian region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ADAN can be found in the "Libro de las Behetrías" (Book of Landholdings), a 14th-century Castilian document that cataloged land tenure and ownership. This document mentions several individuals bearing the surname ADAN, indicating that the name was already well-established by that time.

Throughout the centuries, the surname ADAN has been associated with numerous notable figures. One of the earliest was Álvaro Núñez de Adan, a 13th-century nobleman from the Kingdom of León. Another prominent individual was Juan de Adan, a 15th-century Catholic bishop and diplomat who served as the ambassador of the Catholic Monarchs to the Holy See.

In the realm of literature, the surname ADAN is perhaps most famously associated with Martín de Adan, a 16th-century Spanish poet and playwright. His works, such as the pastoral drama "El Cortesano" (The Courtier), are considered important examples of Renaissance literature in Spain.

Moving forward in time, one cannot overlook the contributions of Enrique Adan y Ricart (1834-1922), a Spanish painter and engraver renowned for his landscapes and portraits. His works are part of the collections of several prestigious museums, including the Museo del Prado in Madrid.

Another notable figure was José María Adan de Yarza (1904-1993), a Spanish architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the reconstruction and urban development of various cities in Spain during the mid-20th century.

While the surname ADAN has deep roots in the Iberian Peninsula, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. Individuals bearing this surname can be found in various countries, particularly those with strong historical ties to Spain and Portugal, such as Latin American nations and former Spanish colonies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Adan

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

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 Adan 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 Adan 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 Adan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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