Gwon last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Gwon

Likely derived from the Welsh word "gwawn" meaning meadow or pasture.

Gwon, 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 Gwon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gwon in America

Gwon is the 107134th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gwon surname appeared 166 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 Gwon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gwon 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 107134 137816 -25.05%
Count 166 112 38.85%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.04 40.00%

The history of the last name Gwon

The surname GWON originates from the Korean peninsula, with roots dating back to the late 14th century during the Goryeo dynasty. It is believed to be derived from the ancient Korean word "gwon," which translates to "authority" or "power." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who held positions of influence or authority within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GWON surname can be found in the Goryeosa, a historical record of the Goryeo dynasty compiled in the 15th century. The document mentions a notable figure named GWON Jeong, who served as a high-ranking government official during the reign of King Gongmin in the mid-14th century.

In the following centuries, the GWON surname gained prominence across various regions of the Korean peninsula, particularly in the provinces of Gyeongsang and Jeolla. Several notable individuals bearing the GWON surname have left their mark on Korean history, including GWON Geun (1551-1637), a renowned Confucian scholar and author of the Seongho jeongnok, a highly regarded treatise on Confucian philosophy.

Another prominent figure was GWON Yul (1537-1599), a revered military commander and strategist who played a crucial role in defending Korea against Japanese invasions during the Imjin War in the late 16th century. His tactical brilliance and leadership were instrumental in repelling the invading forces and preserving Korean sovereignty.

In the realm of arts and literature, GWON Sang-hun (1713-1791) stands out as a celebrated poet and calligrapher of the Joseon dynasty. His works, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the human experience, are still widely studied and appreciated today.

Another notable figure was GWON Deok-mu (1454-1503), a prominent scholar and diplomat who served as a chief envoy to Ming China during the reign of King Yeonsangun. His diplomatic efforts and expertise in Chinese classics played a vital role in maintaining strong relations between the two nations.

While the GWON surname has its roots in Korea, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, it is important to note that the historical accounts and references provided in this report are focused primarily on the Korean context and may not fully encompass the global diaspora of individuals bearing this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gwon

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

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 Gwon was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 3.61% 6
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 92.17% 153
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.01% 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 Gwon has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 3.61% (S)% (S)%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 92.17% 96.43% -4.52%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 3.01% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% 0.00% (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 Gwon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Gwon last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/gwon-surname-popularity/.

"Gwon last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/gwon-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

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

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