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

Cigan, 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 Cigan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cigan in America

Cigan is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cigan surname appeared 125 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 Cigan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cigan 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 Cigan

The surname Cigan has its origins in the Czech Republic, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Czech word "cikán," which means "gypsy" or "wanderer." This suggests that the name may have been initially assigned to individuals or families with a nomadic lifestyle or those who were of Romani descent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cigan can be found in the Czech town of Kutná Hora, where a certain Jan Cigan was mentioned in a legal document from 1562. This document pertained to a property dispute, indicating that the Cigan family had already established roots in the region by that time.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various church records across Bohemia, particularly in the towns of Kladno and Rakovník. During this period, the spelling variations included "Cygan" and "Czigan," reflecting the evolution of the Czech language over time.

The earliest known bearer of the Cigan surname was Václav Cigan, born in 1612 in the village of Lhota near Kladno. He was a blacksmith by trade and is noted for his exceptional skill in crafting horseshoes and other metalwork. His descendants continued to carry on the family name and trade for several generations.

Another notable figure was Jakub Cigan (1738-1815), a renowned herbalist and healer from the town of Rakovník. He was widely respected for his extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and his ability to treat various ailments using natural remedies. Jakub's reputation spread throughout the region, and his name became synonymous with traditional healing practices.

In the 19th century, the Cigan surname gained prominence in the field of education. Jan Cigan (1823-1887) was a highly regarded teacher and author of several textbooks on Czech grammar and literature. His works were widely used in schools across Bohemia and contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of the Czech language and culture.

The name Cigan also appeared in historical records related to the Czech national revival movement of the 19th century. Tomáš Cigan (1856-1912) was a prominent activist and writer who advocated for the rights and recognition of the Czech people within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His writings and speeches played a crucial role in fostering a sense of national identity and pride among his fellow Czechs.

It is worth noting that the surname Cigan has since spread beyond the borders of the Czech Republic, with bearers of the name found in various parts of Europe and even in other continents due to migration and diaspora. However, its roots can be traced back to the Czech lands and the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cigan

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

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

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

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