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

Bhan, 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 Bhan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bhan in America

Bhan is the 58876th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bhan surname appeared 344 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 Bhan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bhan 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 Bhan

The surname BHAN originates from India, particularly in the northern regions of Punjab and Haryana. It can be traced back to the 16th century and is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "bhanu," meaning "sun" or "light." The name is associated with the Brahmin caste, which traditionally held a respected position in Indian society.

In ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, the word "bhan" is often found in reference to the sun, celestial bodies, and the divine light. Some historical records suggest that the surname BHAN was initially used as a title or honorific for learned scholars, philosophers, and spiritual leaders who were considered sources of enlightenment and knowledge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BHAN can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The text mentions several individuals with the surname BHAN, including Pandit Govind Bhan, a renowned scholar and advisor to the emperor.

During the medieval period, the BHAN surname was prevalent among the Hindu communities of northern India. Many historical figures bearing this name made significant contributions to various fields, such as literature, astronomy, and philosophy. Notable examples include:

1. Munshi Bhan Lal (1726-1809), a renowned Urdu poet and writer from Delhi.
2. Pandit Tara Chand Bhan (1790-1868), a celebrated Sanskrit scholar and author from Punjab.
3. Raja Jai Singh Bhan (1611-1667), a celebrated astronomer and builder of the Jantar Mantar observatories.
4. Pandit Anant Ram Bhan (1800-1875), a renowned scholar of Ayurvedic medicine from Haryana.
5. Lala Sita Ram Bhan (1840-1910), a prominent social reformer and educationist from Punjab.

The surname BHAN is also found in various place names across northern India, such as Bhangarh in Rajasthan and Bhaniyana in Punjab. These place names are believed to have been derived from the surname itself or from individuals who bore the BHAN name and established settlements in those areas.

Throughout its long history, the BHAN surname has been associated with intellectual pursuits, spiritual knowledge, and positions of respect within Indian society. While its prevalence may have diminished in modern times, it remains a significant part of India's cultural heritage and linguistic traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bhan

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

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

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

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