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

Byun, 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 Byun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Byun in America

Byun is the 14363rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Byun surname appeared 2,082 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Byun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Byun 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 Byun

The surname "BYUN" is a Korean family name that has its origins in the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 CE) of the Korean Peninsula. It is derived from the ancient Korean word "byeon," which means "edge" or "border." The name is believed to have originated in the northwestern region of the Korean Peninsula, close to the present-day border with China.

In the early days of the Goryeo Dynasty, many Korean surnames were derived from geographical locations or administrative regions. The "BYUN" surname likely emerged as a reference to families residing in the border regions or on the edges of the kingdom. It is possible that some of the earliest bearers of this name were officials or soldiers responsible for guarding the borders or managing the frontier areas.

The "BYUN" surname first appeared in historical records during the late Goryeo period, although the exact date is uncertain. One of the earliest known references to this name can be found in the "Goryeosa" (History of Goryeo), a comprehensive historical record compiled in the 15th century during the Joseon Dynasty.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897 CE), the "BYUN" surname continued to be prominent, and several notable figures from this family made significant contributions to Korean society. One such individual was Byun Sung-Hwan (1501-1554), a renowned Confucian scholar and politician who served as a minister in the royal court.

Another notable bearer of the "BYUN" surname was Byun Hui-Su (1548-1612), a celebrated writer and poet who played a crucial role in the development of Korean literature during the Renaissance period. His works, including the anthology "Namdang goseungjip," are considered masterpieces of classical Korean literature.

In the late 19th century, Byun Byung-Jik (1858-1935) was a prominent educator and independence activist who fought against Japanese colonial rule in Korea. He established the first modern school in Korea, laying the foundation for the country's modern education system.

During the 20th century, Byun Yeong-Ju (1888-1959) was a renowned painter and calligrapher who played a significant role in preserving and promoting traditional Korean art forms. His works have been widely celebrated and are housed in prestigious museums and collections around the world.

Byun Young-Joo (1921-2003) was a prominent South Korean diplomat and politician who served as the country's Prime Minister from 1979 to 1980. He played a crucial role in shaping South Korea's foreign policy and international relations during a critical period in the nation's history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Byun

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

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

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

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