Egen last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Egen

A surname of German origin meaning "one's own."

Egen, 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 Egen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Egen in America

Egen is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Egen surname appeared 137 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 Egen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Egen 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 125282 114852 8.69%
Count 137 141 -2.88%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.05 0.00%

The history of the last name Egen

The surname EGEN is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old German word "egan," which means "to own" or "to possess." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a landowner or someone who held significant property.

One of the earliest documented instances of the EGEN name appears in a registry of landowners in the town of Mönchengladbach, located in the present-day state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The record, dated around 1550, mentions an individual named Hans EGEN who was listed as a prominent landholder in the area.

In the 17th century, the EGEN name can be found in several historical records from the region of Rhineland-Palatinate, particularly in the town of Trier. These records include birth, marriage, and death registers, as well as tax records and land deeds. One notable individual from this period was Johann EGEN (1625-1692), a wealthy merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

As the EGEN family spread across different regions of Germany, variations in the spelling of the name began to emerge. Some of these variations include Ehgen, Eegen, and Eiken. These spelling variations can be found in historical documents from the 18th and 19th centuries, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic variations.

The EGEN name also has a connection to various place names in Germany. For instance, the town of Egenhausen, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, is believed to have derived its name from the EGEN surname, suggesting that the family may have had a presence in that area.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the EGEN surname. One of the most prominent figures was Wilhelm EGEN (1784-1857), a German philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the field of idealism. Another notable figure was Johanna EGEN (1862-1935), a renowned artist and sculptor who was celebrated for her works depicting scenes from everyday life.

In the 20th century, the EGEN name gained recognition through individuals like Karl EGEN (1906-1982), a German politician who served as a member of the Bundestag (the German federal parliament) from 1949 to 1972, and Ingrid EGEN (1921-1998), a acclaimed stage actress who performed in numerous productions throughout Europe.

Overall, the surname EGEN has a rich history rooted in German heritage, with its origins dating back to the 16th century and connections to landowners and property holders. While the name has undergone various spelling variations over time, it continues to be associated with notable figures across various fields, reflecting its enduring presence in German culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Egen

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

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 Egen was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 90.51% 124
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.65% 5
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Egen has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 90.51% 92.91% -2.62%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 3.65% 3.55% 2.78%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Egen last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 14, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/egen-surname-popularity/.

"Egen last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/egen-surname-popularity/. Accessed 14 May, 2025

Egen last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/egen-surname-popularity/.

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