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

Bulan, 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 Bulan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bulan in America

Bulan is the 87335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bulan surname appeared 213 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 Bulan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bulan 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 Bulan

The surname BULAN has its origins in Asia, specifically in the Philippines and Malaysia. It is believed to have derived from the Malay word "bulan," which means moon or month. This connection to celestial bodies and the passage of time suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in astronomy, timekeeping, or lunar-related activities in ancient times.

The earliest known instances of the BULAN surname can be traced back to the 16th century in the Philippines, during the Spanish colonial period. Historical records from this era, such as baptismal and marriage registers maintained by the Catholic Church, contain references to individuals bearing this surname.

One notable early example is Juan BULAN, a Filipino leader and chieftain from the island of Luzon, who lived in the late 16th century. He is remembered for his resistance against Spanish colonization and his efforts to protect the indigenous people's rights and lands.

In Malaysia, the BULAN surname can be found among the Malay community, particularly in the states of Kelantan and Terengganu. It is believed that the name may have originated from place names or villages that incorporated the word "bulan," reflecting the connection to the moon or lunar cycles.

Another individual of historical significance was Dato' Seri BULAN, a prominent Malay warrior and leader from the 17th century. He played a crucial role in defending the Malay Sultanate of Johor against Portuguese and Dutch invaders, earning him a place in the annals of Malay history.

In the 19th century, a notable figure bearing the BULAN surname was Panglima BULAN, a Malay military leader and nobleman from the state of Pahang. He was renowned for his bravery and strategic acumen in battles against the Siamese invaders, helping to preserve the sovereignty of the Pahang Sultanate.

Another individual of historical importance was Tengku BULAN, a Malay princess and aristocrat from the state of Kedah in the late 19th century. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her efforts in promoting education and cultural preservation within the Malay community.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, Dato' Haji BULAN was a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Penang, Malaysia. He was instrumental in the development of the local economy and contributed significantly to various charitable causes, leaving a lasting legacy in his community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bulan

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!