Baran
A Polish or Jewish surname derived from the word "baran," meaning "ram" or "battering ram."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,712 Americans carry the last name Baran. That puts it at #5,253 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.25 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 44,444 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Baran surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
7.7K
1 in 44,444
Census rank
#5,253
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,640 bearers of the surname Baran in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.25 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5253rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Baran, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Baran
The surname Baran originated in Poland and has its roots in the Slavic languages. It is derived from the word "baran," which means "ram" or "male sheep." The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century, and was likely initially used as a descriptive surname for someone who worked with sheep or had a physical resemblance to a ram.
In its early history, the name Baran was commonly found in regions of Poland, such as Lesser Poland, Silesia, and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. It also spread to neighboring countries like Belarus, Ukraine, and Lithuania, where it took on slightly different spellings like Baran or Baranas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Baran can be found in the Liber Beneficiorum, a 14th-century manuscript compiled by Jan Długosz, a Polish priest and historian. This document was a comprehensive record of church properties and their beneficiaries, including individuals with the surname Baran.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Baran. One example is Wincenty Baran (1889-1946), a Polish military officer and politician who served as the Minister of Public Security in the Polish government-in-exile during World War II. Another prominent figure is Stanisław Baran (1940-2014), a Polish writer and journalist known for his works on history and politics.
In the realm of sports, Władysław Baran (1910-1981) was a Polish footballer who played as a midfielder for several clubs, including Cracovia and Wisła Kraków, and represented the Polish national team in the 1930s. Mieczysław Baran (1901-1993) was a Polish athlete who competed in the long jump and triple jump events at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Moving to the arts, Stanisław Baran (1933-2014) was a Polish sculptor and academic, best known for his monumental public sculptures and works in bronze and stone. His sculptures can be found in various cities throughout Poland and other countries.
While the surname Baran has its roots in Poland and the Slavic languages, it has also been adopted by individuals of other nationalities and ethnicities over time, further contributing to its diverse history and global presence.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Baran
Among Census respondents with the surname Baran, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Baran bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Baran surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.6%
- Hispanic or Latino3.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.5%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Black or African American0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Baran surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,253 | #5,253 | 0.0% |
| Count | 6,640 | 6,640 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.25 | 2.25 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Baran bearers went from 6,640 to 6,640 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,253 to #5,253.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Baran
FAQ
Baran surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Baran?
The surname Baran holds position #5,253 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,712 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.25 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Baran surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Baran, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.