Berdan last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Berdan

A surname of Turkish origin meaning "mountain stream".

Berdan, 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 Berdan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Berdan in America

Berdan is the 33990th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Berdan surname appeared 669 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 Berdan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Berdan 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank33990339330.17%
Count6696335.53%
Proportion per 100k0.230.230.00%

The history of the last name Berdan

The surname BERDAN originated in the Caucasus region, encompassing parts of modern-day Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. It is believed to have stemmed from the Armenian word "berdan," which means "fortress" or "stronghold." This name likely emerged during the medieval period when fortified structures were crucial for defense and protection.

The earliest records of the BERDAN surname can be traced back to the 14th century in historical documents and manuscripts from the region. One notable mention is found in a 1387 Armenian chronicle, which references a nobleman named Khachatur BERDAN who played a role in local skirmishes against invading forces.

In the 16th century, the BERDAN name gained prominence with the birth of Hovhannes BERDAN (1522-1591), a renowned Armenian scholar and theologian. His works on philosophy and theology were widely circulated and studied throughout the region.

The 17th century saw the rise of Petros BERDAN (1608-1672), a skilled architect responsible for designing several churches and monasteries in the Caucasus region. His legacy can be seen in the intricate stone carvings and architectural details that adorn these historic buildings.

As the BERDAN family spread across the region, variations in spelling emerged, including BERDANOV, BERDANYAN, and BERDANOFF. These variations often reflected the linguistic influences of the areas where the family settled.

In the 19th century, Nikolai BERDAN (1824-1904), a Russian military officer and inventor, gained international recognition for his revolutionary design of the Berdan rifle, which was widely used in the American Civil War and other conflicts.

Another notable figure was Artashes BERDAN (1853-1920), an Armenian writer and journalist who played a significant role in the Armenian literary renaissance of the late 19th century. His works addressed social and political issues of the time, earning him both praise and criticism.

Throughout history, the BERDAN surname has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from architecture and literature to military innovation and scholarship. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation, its roots can be traced back to the fortified strongholds of the medieval Caucasus region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Berdan

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

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 Berdan was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only88.04%589
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only6.58%44
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races2.69%18
Hispanic Origin2.09%14

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

20102000Change (%)
White88.04%90.21%-2.43%
Black(S)%(S)%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander6.58%6.64%-0.91%
American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)%(S)%
Two or More Races2.69%1.26%72.41%
Hispanic2.09%1.58%27.79%

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

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