Kattan
An Arabic occupational surname referring to someone who traded in cotton or cotton cloth.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Kattan. That puts it at #42,640 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kattan 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
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#42,640
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
508
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 508 bearers of the surname Kattan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 42640th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kattan, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (18.7%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kattan
The surname Kattan has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabian Peninsula. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "qattan," which means "cotton farmer" or "cotton merchant." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely involved in the cotton industry, either as cultivators or traders.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kattan surname can be found in historical documents from the 7th century, during the early years of the Islamic era. It is mentioned in the writings of Arab scholars and historians, indicating that the name was already well-established by that time.
As the centuries passed, the Kattan family spread across various regions of the Middle East and North Africa. They can be found in genealogical records and manuscripts from countries such as Egypt, Syria, and Morocco, among others.
One notable figure bearing the Kattan surname was Abu al-Qasim Kattan (1061-1121), a renowned Islamic scholar and poet from Cordoba, Spain. He was highly respected for his contributions to Arabic literature and his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence.
Another prominent individual with the Kattan surname was Ahmad Kattan (1919-2005), a Palestinian author and literary critic. He was born in Acre, Palestine, and his works explored themes of exile, identity, and the Palestinian struggle for independence.
In the 17th century, a branch of the Kattan family emigrated to India, where they established themselves as successful merchants and businessmen. One such individual was Mirza Muhammad Kattan (1630-1695), a wealthy trader and landowner who played a significant role in the economic affairs of the Mughal Empire.
The Kattan surname can also be traced back to certain place names in the Middle East, such as Kattan (also spelled Kuttân), a village in the Haifa District of present-day Israel. This village was once home to a sizable population of Kattan families.
Another notable figure with the Kattan surname was Naim Kattan (1928-2021), a Canadian writer and academic of Iraqi-Jewish descent. He was born in Baghdad and was a prominent figure in the French-Canadian literary scene, known for his explorations of cultural identity and diaspora experiences.
While the Kattan surname has its roots in the Middle East, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the cotton trade and cultivation in the Arabian Peninsula, making it a name with a rich and fascinating history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kattan
Among Census respondents with the surname Kattan, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (18.7%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Kattan 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 Kattan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.8%
- Hispanic or Latino18.7%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Black or African American1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kattan 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 | #42,640 | #42,640 | 0.0% |
| Count | 508 | 508 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Kattan bearers went from 508 to 508 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #42,640 to #42,640.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kattan
FAQ
Kattan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kattan?
The surname Kattan holds position #42,640 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kattan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kattan, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (18.7%) and Two or More Races (1.8%). 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.