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

Klan, 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 Klan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Klan in America

Klan is the 85049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Klan surname appeared 220 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 Klan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Klan 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 Klan

The surname Klan has its origins in the Celtic language and is believed to have originated in Scotland or Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic word 'clann', which means children, descendants, or family. The name was often used to refer to a clan or a group of people descended from a common ancestor.

In ancient times, the name Klan appeared in various forms, such as Clann, Clan, and Klann, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation across different regions. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to medieval Scotland and Ireland, where it was commonly used to identify members of a particular clan or family group.

One of the earliest known references to the name Klan is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions the "Clann Cholmáin" (Clan Colman) in the 10th century. The name also appears in Scottish historical records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which document land transactions and legal proceedings involving individuals bearing the surname Klan.

Notable individuals who carried the surname Klan throughout history include:

1. Giolla Críst Ua Cléirigh (c. 1590-1643), an Irish chronicler and historian who compiled the Annals of the Four Masters, a comprehensive record of Irish history.
2. John Klan (c. 1570-1640), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and writer who was involved in the religious controversies of his time.
3. Angus Klan (1655-1718), a Scottish Jacobite soldier and poet known for his loyalty to the exiled House of Stuart.
4. Mary Klan (1765-1832), an Irish philanthropist and activist who campaigned for the education of women and the rights of the poor.
5. Robert Klan (1820-1892), a Scottish inventor and engineer who contributed to the development of early steam engines and machinery.

While the surname Klan has been associated with various place names and locations throughout its history, the specific origins of these place names and their connections to the surname are not always clear. However, it is evident that the name has deep roots in the Celtic cultures of Scotland and Ireland, and its enduring presence reflects the rich tapestry of these regions' histories.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Klan

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

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

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

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