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

Kallen, 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 Kallen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kallen in America

Kallen is the 43438th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kallen surname appeared 497 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 Kallen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kallen 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 Kallen

The surname Kallen is thought to have originated in Germany, where it first appeared in the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "kahl," meaning "bald" or "hairless." The name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was bald or had a distinct lack of hair.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kallen surname can be found in the town records of Heidelberg, Germany, in the year 1576. These records mention a certain Hans Kallen, who was a baker by trade. It's possible that this individual was the first to adopt the surname in a formal capacity.

In the 17th century, the Kallen surname began to spread across various regions of Germany, with notable concentrations found in the states of Bavaria and Saxony. During this period, the name also appeared in various spellings, including Kahlen, Kalen, and Kählen, reflecting regional linguistic variations.

One prominent individual bearing the Kallen surname was Johann Kallen, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1642 to 1709. He was a professor at the University of Jena and wrote several influential works on religious and philosophical topics.

Another notable figure was Friedrich Kallen, a German military officer and statesman who lived from 1790 to 1867. He served as a general in the Prussian army and played a crucial role in the Prussian reforms of the early 19th century.

In the 19th century, the Kallen surname made its way to other parts of Europe and beyond. For instance, Horace Meyer Kallen, an American philosopher and cultural pluralist, was born in 1882 to German-Jewish parents who had emigrated to the United States. He was a prominent advocate for cultural diversity and is considered a key figure in the development of the concept of "cultural pluralism."

Another individual of note was Lucille Kallen, a French-American actress and author who lived from 1898 to 1962. She appeared in several Broadway productions and was also known for her novels and memoirs.

While the surname Kallen has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have migrated over the centuries. Despite its relatively humble origins as a descriptive nickname, the name has been borne by scholars, military leaders, artists, and intellectuals throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kallen

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

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

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

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