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

Ivan, 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 Ivan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ivan in America

Ivan is the 18961st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ivan surname appeared 1,439 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 Ivan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ivan 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 Ivan

The surname Ivan is of Russian origin, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "Ivan," which means "God is gracious." It is believed that the name was initially popularized by the Byzantine Empire, where it was commonly used by members of the nobility and royalty.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ivan can be found in the Veliky Novgorod Chronicles, a collection of historical documents dating back to the 12th century. These chronicles mention several individuals bearing the surname, including Ivan Ivanovich, a wealthy merchant who lived in the city of Novgorod during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Ivan gained prominence in Russia, particularly among the ruling class. One notable figure was Ivan Kalita, the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1325 to 1340. He was instrumental in strengthening the power of the Muscovite principality and laying the foundations for the eventual rise of the Russian Empire.

During the 16th century, the surname Ivan was associated with several prominent political and military figures. One such individual was Ivan Fyodorovich Bel'sky, a talented military commander who served under Ivan the Terrible. He played a crucial role in the conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan, two important territories that were incorporated into the Russian Empire.

In the 17th century, the surname Ivan was prominent in the literary and cultural spheres. Ivan Andreyevich Krylov, a renowned Russian fabulist and playwright, was born in 1769. His works, which often contained moral lessons and satirical commentary on contemporary society, have become an integral part of Russian literary heritage.

Another notable figure with the surname Ivan was Ivan Pavlovich Kulibin, a skilled inventor and mechanical engineer who lived from 1735 to 1818. He is best known for his numerous inventions, including an early version of the mechanical calculator and a self-propelled carriage powered by a steam engine.

Throughout history, the surname Ivan has been associated with various place names and geographical locations. For instance, the village of Ivanovka in the Bryansk region of Russia is believed to have derived its name from individuals bearing the surname Ivan who settled in the area.

The surname Ivan continues to be widespread in Russia and other Slavic countries, carrying with it a rich historical legacy and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ivan

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

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

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

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