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

Jeon, 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 Jeon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jeon in America

Jeon is the 7791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jeon surname appeared 4,253 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Jeon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jeon 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 Jeon

The surname JEON is of Korean origin, with its roots dating back to the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC - 935 AD) of ancient Korea. The name is derived from the Korean word "jeon," which means "front" or "before." It is believed to have been used as a descriptive name for people who lived at the forefront of a village or near the entrance of a town.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the JEON surname can be found in the Samguk Sagi, a historical record of the Three Kingdoms period. This text, written in the 12th century, includes references to individuals bearing the JEON name, indicating its widespread use during that time.

The JEON surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Korean history. For instance, the city of Jeonju, located in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula, is believed to have derived its name from the JEON surname, suggesting that the area was once inhabited or ruled by a prominent JEON clan.

Notable figures bearing the JEON surname include Jeon Gwanghun (1537-1624), a renowned Confucian scholar and writer during the Joseon Dynasty. He is recognized for his contributions to Korean literature and his scholarly works on Confucian philosophy.

Another prominent individual with the JEON surname is Jeon Hyeong-lip (1808-1893), a renowned calligrapher and artist of the late Joseon period. His works are highly regarded for their artistic mastery and have been preserved in various museums and collections.

In the modern era, Jeon Tae-il (1904-1970) was a prominent Korean painter and art educator. He played a crucial role in the development of Western-style painting in Korea and was instrumental in establishing art education programs in the country.

Jeon Hyun-moo (1828-1876) was a Confucian scholar and renowned poet during the late Joseon Dynasty. His literary works, particularly his poetry, are celebrated for their profound insights and artistic expression.

Lastly, Jeon Seung-cheol (1936-2017) was a renowned Korean actor and filmmaker. He was a pioneering figure in the Korean film industry and is remembered for his versatile performances and contributions to the development of Korean cinema.

These individuals, spanning various eras and fields, exemplify the rich history and cultural significance associated with the JEON surname in Korean society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jeon

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

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

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

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