Kagen
An Ashkenazic Jewish surname derived from the German word "kagen" meaning "basket weaver."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Kagen. That puts it at #85,659 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kagen surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#85,659
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
218
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 218 bearers of the surname Kagen in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 85659th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kagen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kagen
The surname Kagen has its origins in Germany, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "kagen," which means "to bend or curve." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person's physical characteristics or perhaps a location with a curved or winding shape.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kagen can be found in the Kirchenbuch (church book) of the town of Radeburg, near Dresden, in the year 1567. The entry mentions a certain Hans Kagen, who was likely a resident of the area at that time.
In the 17th century, the name Kagen appears in various records from the Rhineland region of Germany. A notable mention is found in the Stadtbuch (town book) of Cologne, which lists a merchant named Peter Kagen who lived in the city during the 1630s.
As the name spread across Germany, it took on several variations in spelling, such as Kagen, Kagan, and Kagen. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the geographical locations where the name was prevalent or by the dialects spoken in those areas.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Kagen was Johann Kagen, a scholar and theologian born in Erfurt, Germany, in 1499. He was a renowned humanist and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.
Another notable figure with this surname was Friedrich Kagen, a German composer and organist who lived from 1810 to 1879. He composed numerous works for the organ and was highly regarded in his time.
In the 19th century, the name Kagen gained prominence in the field of literature with the German author and poet Wilhelm Kagen, who was born in 1823 and died in 1896. His works, which often explored themes of nature and romanticism, were widely celebrated during his lifetime.
The surname Kagen also has a connection to place names in Germany. For instance, the town of Kagen in Lower Saxony is believed to have derived its name from the same linguistic root as the surname.
Throughout history, several other individuals with the surname Kagen have made their mark in various fields, such as science, politics, and the arts. However, due to the rarity of the name, detailed records and biographical information about many of them may be scarce or lost to time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kagen
Among Census respondents with the surname Kagen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Kagen bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Kagen surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.7%
- Hispanic or Latino3.2%
- Two or more races2.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kagen surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #85,659 | #85,659 | 0.0% |
| Count | 218 | 218 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Kagen bearers went from 218 to 218 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #85,659 to #85,659.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kagen
FAQ
Kagen surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kagen?
The surname Kagen holds position #85,659 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kagen surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kagen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Two or More Races (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.