2000
#15,071
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,796
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.67
Rare Last name
Hyun
A Korean surname derived from the Chinese character 玄, meaning "black," "profound," or "mysterious."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,636 Americans carry the last name Hyun. That puts it at #12,791 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.77 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 130,028 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hyun 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
2.6K
1 in 130,028
Census rank
#12,791
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,299 bearers of the surname Hyun in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.77 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12791st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hyun, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%) and White (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hyun
The surname Hyun is of Korean origin, dating back to the 14th century during the Goryeo Dynasty. It is believed to have derived from the Korean word "Hyeon," which means "worthy" or "virtuous." The name was traditionally given to individuals who displayed exemplary character and integrity.
In the early days, the Hyun surname was predominantly found in the northern regions of the Korean peninsula, particularly in the areas around present-day Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. It was relatively uncommon in the southern regions during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Hyun surname can be found in the "Goryeosa," a historical record of the Goryeo Dynasty compiled in the 15th century. This ancient text documents several individuals bearing the Hyun surname who held important positions within the royal court and government.
Notable historical figures with the Hyun surname include Hyun Bong-hak (1556-1618), a renowned Confucian scholar and philosopher during the Joseon Dynasty. His works had a significant influence on the intellectual landscape of his time. Another prominent individual was Hyun Gyu-geun (1554-1635), a highly respected military leader who played a crucial role in defending the nation against Japanese invasions in the late 16th century.
In the realm of literature, Hyun Jin-geon (1554-1637) was a celebrated poet and writer whose works are still widely studied and appreciated today. His poetry was known for its elegant style and profound insights into human nature.
The Hyun surname also has ties to notable places in Korea. For instance, the city of Hyundo-myeon in South Chungcheong Province is believed to have derived its name from the Hyun clan that resided in the area during the Goryeo and Joseon periods.
Another significant figure was Hyun Sang-gyu (1904-1943), a prominent independence activist who fought against Japanese colonial rule in the early 20th century. His unwavering dedication to the cause of Korean independence made him a revered figure in the nation's struggle for freedom.
Throughout its long history, the Hyun surname has been associated with individuals who have made valuable contributions to various fields, including academia, literature, military affairs, and the fight for national sovereignty.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hyun
Among Census respondents with the surname Hyun, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%) and White (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Hyun 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 Hyun surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander93.1% · 2,141
- Two or more races3.0% · 68
- White2.7% · 61
- Hispanic or Latino0.8% · 19
- Black or African American0.3% · 8
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Hyun
Hyun 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
#13,462
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,262
+466 bearers (+25.9%)
Per 100,000 0.77
Rank movement Up 1,609 places
2020
#12,791
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,299
+37 bearers (+1.6%)
Per 100,000 0.77
Rank movement Up 671 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #15,071 | 1,796 | 0.67 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,462 | 2,262 | 0.77 | +466 bearers (+25.9%) | Up 1,609 places |
| 2020 | #12,791 | 2,299 | 0.77 | +37 bearers (+1.6%) | Up 671 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 Hyun 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 | #13,462 | #12,791 | 5.0% |
| Count | 2,262 | 2,299 | 1.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.77 | 0.77 | -0.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Hyun bearers went from 2,262 to 2,299 (+1.6% change). The surname moved up 671 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,462 to #12,791.
FAQ
Hyun surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Hyun?
Name Census estimates that about 2,636 living Americans carry the surname Hyun. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 130,028 residents.
How common is Hyun?
Hyun ranks #12,791 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.77 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,299 people with the surname Hyun. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,636), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.77 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.77 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Hyun.
Has Hyun become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Hyun went from 2,262 recorded bearers to 2,299. That is an increase of 37 (+1.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #13,462 to #12,791.
What does the Census say about the background of Hyun?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hyun, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%) and White (2.7%). 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?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Hyun in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.1% (2,141 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Hyun appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (93.1%), Two or More Races (3.0%), White (2.7%). 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 Hyun (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 Hyun mean?
A Korean surname derived from the Chinese character 玄, meaning "black," "profound," or "mysterious." 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 Hyun (0.77 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 Hyun?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.