Bejan last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Bejan

A Romanian surname derived from a personal name of Slavic origin.

Bejan, 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 Bejan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bejan in America

Bejan is the 110286th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bejan surname appeared 160 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 Bejan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bejan 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 110286 142819 -25.71%
Count 160 107 39.70%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.04 22.22%

The history of the last name Bejan

The surname BEJAN originated in Romania, specifically in the region of Wallachia, during the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Romanian word "bejanie," which means "wandering" or "exile." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were wanderers, travelers, or those who were forced into exile for various reasons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BEJAN can be found in the historical records of the Principality of Wallachia, dating back to the late 16th century. It is mentioned in connection with a family that held land and property in the region, indicating their status as landowners or noblemen.

In the 17th century, the name BEJAN appeared in several church records and legal documents in Wallachia, further solidifying its presence in the region. One notable individual from this period was Mihai BEJAN (1620-1689), a wealthy merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the economic and political affairs of Wallachia.

As the centuries passed, the name BEJAN spread beyond the borders of Romania. In the 18th century, there are records of individuals bearing this surname in neighboring regions such as Moldova and Transylvania. One notable figure from this era was Gheorghe BEJAN (1745-1812), a renowned scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the intellectual discourse of the time.

The 19th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals with the surname BEJAN. Ion BEJAN (1828-1891) was a celebrated poet and writer who left a lasting impact on the literary landscape of Romania. Likewise, Ecaterina BEJAN (1860-1938) was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, paving the way for future generations of Romanian women.

In the 20th century, the name BEJAN continued to be associated with influential figures. Alexandru BEJAN (1920-2005) was a highly respected engineer and academic, known for his groundbreaking work in the field of thermodynamics. Another notable individual was Maria BEJAN (1935-2018), a renowned opera singer who captivated audiences across Europe with her powerful performances.

Throughout its history, the surname BEJAN has been linked to various places and regions within Romania and neighboring areas. While the precise origins of the name remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, its legacy as a distinctive Romanian surname has endured over the centuries, spanning various walks of life and leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bejan

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

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 Bejan was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.63% 153
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 3.13% 5

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 Bejan has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.63% 89.72% 6.38%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 3.13% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Bejan last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 29, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/bejan-surname-popularity/.

"Bejan last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/bejan-surname-popularity/. Accessed 29 June, 2025

Bejan last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/bejan-surname-popularity/.

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