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

Grahn, 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 Grahn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grahn in America

Grahn is the 22543rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grahn surname appeared 1,140 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 Grahn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grahn 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 Grahn

The surname Grahn is of Swedish origin, originating in the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Swedish word "gran," meaning "pine tree" or "fir tree," suggesting that the name was likely given to someone who lived near or worked with pine trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Grahn surname can be found in the Swedish church records of the late 16th century. In 1587, a man named Nils Grahn was listed as a resident of the parish of Västervik, located in the province of Småland.

In the 17th century, the Grahn surname appears in various Swedish genealogical records and historical documents. One notable individual was Johan Grahn (1630-1692), a Swedish military officer who served in the Scanian War between Sweden and Denmark-Norway.

During the 18th century, the Grahn surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Småland and Västergötland. One prominent Grahn was Carl Fredrik Grahn (1753-1816), a Swedish violinist and composer who is considered one of the founders of the Swedish violin school.

In the 19th century, the Grahn surname continued to be widely distributed across Sweden. One notable figure was Mathilda Grahn (1828-1867), a Swedish opera singer who performed at the Royal Swedish Opera and was highly acclaimed for her portrayal of the title role in Donizetti's opera "Lucia di Lammermoor."

Another significant individual with the Grahn surname was Gustaf Grahn (1853-1923), a Swedish engineer and inventor who pioneered the use of reinforced concrete in construction. His work played a crucial role in the development of modern building techniques.

As the Grahn surname spread beyond Sweden, it also gained recognition in other parts of the world. For example, in the early 20th century, Nils Grahn (1884-1961) was a prominent Norwegian-American architect known for his work in the Prairie School style, particularly in the Chicago area.

While the surname Grahn has its roots in Sweden, it has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds and professions throughout history, contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural diversity and achievement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grahn

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

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

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

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