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

Koen, 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 Koen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koen in America

Koen is the 19834th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koen surname appeared 1,355 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 Koen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Koen 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 Koen

The surname Koen originated in the Low Countries region, which includes present-day Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

One theory suggests that Koen is derived from the Old Dutch word "koen," which means "brave" or "courageous." This could indicate that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who exhibited bravery or courage.

Another possibility is that Koen is a variant spelling of the name "Cohen," which has its roots in the Hebrew language and is commonly associated with the Jewish priestly caste. However, this connection is not definitively established for the Koen surname.

In medieval records, the name appears with various spellings, such as "Konen," "Koenen," and "Coenen." These variations reflect the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Koen surname is found in the records of the city of Antwerp in Belgium, dating back to the 14th century. The name is mentioned in connection with individuals involved in trade and commerce, suggesting that the bearers of this surname were active in the economic life of the city.

A notable figure with the Koen surname was Pieter Koen (1564-1646), a Dutch colonist and governor of the Dutch East Indies. He played a significant role in establishing Dutch colonial rule in present-day Indonesia and is remembered for his leadership and administrative skills.

Another individual of historical importance was Adriaen Koen (1585-1651), a Dutch painter known for his still-life works and portraits. His paintings are housed in museums across Europe and provide a glimpse into the artistic traditions of the Dutch Golden Age.

In the realm of literature, Hendrik Koen (1720-1799) was a Dutch poet and playwright who contributed to the development of Dutch theater during the 18th century. His works were widely performed and celebrated in his time.

Moving to the 19th century, Lodewijk Koen (1817-1892) was a Dutch artist and painter who specialized in landscape paintings. His artwork captured the beauty of the Dutch countryside and is now part of various museum collections.

Lastly, Cornelis Koen (1869-1945) was a Dutch architect who left a lasting impact on the architectural landscape of the Netherlands. He designed numerous buildings, including residential homes, churches, and public structures, many of which are still standing today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koen

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

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

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

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