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

Khan, 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 Khan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Khan in America

Khan is the 427th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Khan surname appeared 76,171 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 26 people would have the surname Khan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Khan 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 Khan

The surname KHAN has its origins in Central Asia and is derived from the Turkic and Mongolic word "Khan" which means "ruler" or "leader". This name is closely associated with the Mongol Empire and the various Khanates that emerged from it.

The KHAN surname can be traced back to the 13th century during the reign of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire. The name was initially used to denote the rulers and leaders of the Mongol tribes, and it gradually became a hereditary title passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KHAN surname appears in the writings of Marco Polo, the famous Venetian explorer, who traveled through the Mongol Empire in the late 13th century. He documented the names and titles of various Khans he encountered during his journey.

In the 14th century, the KHAN surname was widely used among the ruling elite of the Golden Horde, the Mongol Khanate that ruled over vast territories in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Prominent figures such as Batu Khan (c. 1205-1255), the founder of the Golden Horde, and Berke Khan (c. 1209-1266), his successor, bore this surname.

As the Mongol Empire fragmented, the KHAN surname spread across various regions, including Central Asia, Persia, and South Asia. In the 16th century, the Mughal Empire in India was founded by Babur (1483-1530), a descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur (Tamerlane), who bore the KHAN surname.

Another notable figure with the KHAN surname was Nader Shah (1688-1747), the founder of the Afsharid dynasty in Persia and one of the most powerful rulers of his time. He was known for his military campaigns and the expansion of Persian territories.

In the 19th century, the KHAN surname gained prominence in the Central Asian region, particularly in areas such as modern-day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Prominent Khans of this period included Kenesary Khan (1802-1847), a Kazakh warrior and leader who fought against Russian expansion, and Alim Khan (1880-1944), the last Khan of Khiva, a Khanate in modern-day Uzbekistan.

Throughout history, the KHAN surname has been associated with leadership, power, and military prowess, reflecting its roots in the Mongol Empire and the various Khanates that emerged from it. While the surname has spread across different regions and cultures, its significance and prestige remain deeply rooted in Central Asian history and traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Khan

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

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

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

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