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

Atoyan, 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 Atoyan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Atoyan in America

Atoyan is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Atoyan surname appeared 119 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 Atoyan.

The history of the last name Atoyan

The surname Atoyan has its origins in Armenia, a country located in the Caucasus region. It is believed to have emerged in the 7th or 8th century AD, during the height of the Armenian kingdoms. The name is derived from the Armenian word "atoṙ," which means "ploughman" or "farmer."

In the early medieval period, Armenian surnames often originated from occupations, and Atoyan likely referred to individuals who worked as farmers or tilled the land. Some historical records suggest that the name may have been particularly prevalent in the region around Lake Van, near the present-day Turkish-Armenian border.

One of the earliest known references to the Atoyan surname dates back to the 12th century, when an Armenian manuscript mentioned a nobleman named Grigor Atoyan. This suggests that the name had already gained prominence and was associated with the aristocracy by that time.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, as the Armenian kingdoms faced invasions and political upheaval, many Atoyans likely migrated to other parts of the region, spreading the surname across the Caucasus and into neighboring territories.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Martiros Atoyan served as a bishop in the Armenian Apostolic Church. He played a significant role in preserving Armenian religious and cultural traditions during a period of Ottoman rule.

Another prominent individual with the Atoyan surname was Khachatur Atoyan, an Armenian political activist and writer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a vocal advocate for Armenian independence and played a pivotal role in the Armenian national liberation movement.

In the 20th century, the Atoyan name gained further recognition through the renowned Armenian composer and conductor Armen Atoyan (1920-1998). His works helped to popularize Armenian classical music on the international stage.

Alongside these notable figures, the Atoyan surname has also been associated with several villages and towns in Armenia, such as Atoyan and Nor Atoyan, further solidifying its historical connections to the region.

While the Atoyan name has its roots in Armenian history, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by Armenian immigrants and their descendants. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Armenian kingdoms and the agricultural traditions that shaped the early development of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Atoyan

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

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 Atoyan 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.

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

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

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