2000
#134,037
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Constan
A surname derived from the ancient Roman name "Constantinus", meaning steadfast or constant.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Constan. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Constan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Constan in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Constan, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Constan
The surname CONSTAN is of British origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "constane," which means "constant" or "steadfast." This name was initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who exhibited unwavering loyalty or persistence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the CONSTAN surname can be found in the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This historical record mentions a landowner named Constancius, which is likely a variation of the same root name.
During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Constan, Constane, and Constance, in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. These variations reflect the regional dialects and spelling variations common during that era.
One notable individual bearing the CONSTAN surname was Sir John Constan, a prominent knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He was recorded as participating in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Siege of Calais in 1347.
In the 15th century, the surname CONSTAN was associated with several place names, such as Constanton and Constantyne, which were located in various regions of England. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Another historical figure of note was William Constan, a merchant and alderman in the City of London during the late 16th century. He was known for his involvement in trade with the Netherlands and his philanthropic endeavors, including the establishment of a charity school in his name.
During the 17th century, the CONSTAN surname gained prominence in certain areas of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands region. It is believed that this was due to the migration of families from England to Scotland during this period.
In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the CONSTAN surname was John Constan, a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Old College of the University of Edinburgh, completed in 1789.
Throughout the 19th century, the CONSTAN surname continued to be present across various regions of the United Kingdom, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields, including academia, arts, and politics.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Constan
Among Census respondents with the surname Constan, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Constan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Constan surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.2% · 95
- Hispanic or Latino13.3% · 16
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.5% · 3
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Constan
Constan appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#130,610
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 130
+14 bearers (+12.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,427 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-10 bearers (-7.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 11,439 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,037 | 116 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #130,610 | 130 | 0.04 | +14 bearers (+12.1%) | Up 3,427 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | -10 bearers (-7.7%) | Down 11,439 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Constan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #130,610 | #142,049 | -8.8% |
| Count | 130 | 120 | -7.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Constan bearers went from 130 to 120 (-7.7% change). The surname moved down 11,439 positions in the national ranking, going from #130,610 to #142,049.
FAQ
Constan surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Constan?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Constan. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Constan?
Constan ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Constan. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Constan.
Has Constan become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Constan went from 130 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 10 (-7.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #130,610 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Constan?
Among Census respondents with the surname Constan, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Constan in the 2020 Census, accounting for 79.2% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Constan appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (79.2%), Hispanic (13.3%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Constan (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Constan mean?
A surname derived from the ancient Roman name "Constantinus", meaning steadfast or constant. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Constan (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Constan?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.