Caan
A surname originating from the British Isles, derived from the Gaelic name Cathan or the Irish Ó Cathain, meaning "warrior" or "descendant of Catháin".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Caan. That puts it at #151,532 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Caan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#151,532
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Caan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151532nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Caan, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.4%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (27.8%) and Black (5.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Caan
The surname Caan has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic language. It is believed to have first emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Arabic word "qan," which means "skilled" or "expert."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Caan can be found in the writings of the 12th-century Arab geographer and traveler, Muhammad al-Idrisi. In his work, he mentions a family from the region of Aleppo, Syria, bearing the surname Caan, who were renowned for their expertise in metalworking.
During the later part of the medieval period, the name Caan began to spread across the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in areas with significant Arab populations. Some historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries mention Caan families residing in cities such as Cairo, Damascus, and Fez.
As trade and travel became more prevalent, the name Caan eventually made its way to other parts of the world, including Europe. One of the earliest recorded European instances of the surname can be found in the archives of the city of Venice, Italy, where a merchant named Salim Caan is mentioned in a trade agreement dated 1438.
Over the centuries, the name Caan has undergone various spelling variations, including Kaan, Cahan, and Kahen, among others. These variations often reflect the influence of local dialects and languages on the pronunciation and transliteration of the name.
Notable individuals with the surname Caan throughout history include:
1. Abdelmalek Caan (1835-1914), a Moroccan diplomat and ambassador to several European countries.
2. Fatima Caan (1892-1976), an Egyptian artist and pioneering figure in the field of Arabic calligraphy.
3. Khalid Caan (1920-1998), a Syrian politician and former Prime Minister of Syria from 1965 to 1966.
4. Leila Caan (born 1945), a Lebanese-American author and journalist known for her work on Middle Eastern affairs.
5. James Caan (1940-2022), an American actor famous for his roles in films such as "The Godfather" and "Misery."
While the surname Caan has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and interconnectedness of human societies throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Caan
Among Census respondents with the surname Caan, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.4%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (27.8%) and Black (5.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Caan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Caan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White57.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander27.8%
- Black or African American5.6%
- Hispanic or Latino5.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Caan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #151,532 | 0.0% |
| Count | 108 | 108 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Caan bearers went from 108 to 108 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #151,532.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Caan
FAQ
Caan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Caan?
The surname Caan holds position #151,532 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Caan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Caan, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.4%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (27.8%) and Black (5.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.