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

An, 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 An surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of An in America

An is the 4353rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The An surname appeared 8,160 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname An.

We can also compare 2010 data for An 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 An

The surname An is believed to have originated in China, where it can be traced back to the 6th century AD. It is derived from the Chinese word "an" which means "peace" or "tranquility". The name was originally used as a descriptive term for someone who lived a peaceful life or had a calm demeanor.

In ancient Chinese records, one of the earliest documented individuals with the surname An was An Lushan, a famous military governor and rebel leader who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). He is known for leading a rebellion against the Tang imperial court in 755 AD, which lasted for eight years and caused significant upheaval in the region.

Another notable figure with the surname An was An Qingxiu, a renowned Chinese calligrapher and scholar who lived during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD). He was highly respected for his elegant calligraphic style and his contributions to the development of the art form.

In the 13th century, a Buddhist monk named An Xiji gained recognition for his travels throughout China and his efforts in spreading Buddhist teachings. His writings and teachings were widely circulated and influenced the growth of Buddhism in various regions.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), a military strategist named An Zhengwen played a crucial role in the defense of the empire against Mongol invasions. His tactics and leadership were instrumental in several victories, earning him a prominent place in Chinese military history.

In more recent times, the surname An has been carried by notable individuals such as An Changlie, a 19th-century Chinese painter and calligrapher known for his innovative techniques and contributions to the development of modern Chinese art.

While the surname An has its roots in China, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchanges. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in Chinese culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name An

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

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

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

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