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

Koon, 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 Koon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koon in America

Koon is the 6083rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koon surname appeared 5,638 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Koon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Koon 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 Koon

The surname Koon has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 12th century as a variation of the word "Kohn," derived from the Hebrew name "Kohen," meaning "priest." It is believed that the name was initially adopted by Jewish families residing in German territories.

In its early days, the name Koon was predominantly found in regions such as Bavaria and Franconia, where Jewish communities had established themselves. The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in a manuscript dating back to 1178, which mentions a certain "Konrad Kohn" among the inhabitants of the city of Regensburg.

As the name spread across German-speaking lands, it underwent various spelling variations, including Kuhn, Kuehn, Kühn, and eventually, Koon. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and variations in pronunciation.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Rabbi Meir ben Baruch Kohn (1163-1244), a renowned Talmudic scholar and author of the influential work "Haggahot Maimuniot." Born in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, he is considered a pivotal figure in the development of Jewish jurisprudence during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the name Koon appeared in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Koon (1524-1589) was a prominent merchant and landowner. His descendants continued to play a significant role in the city's commercial and civic affairs for several generations.

Another individual of note was Salomon Kohn (1825-1904), a German-Jewish philanthropist and businessman from Frankfurt am Main. He was a prominent supporter of Jewish educational institutions and charitable causes, contributing significantly to the welfare of the local community.

As the centuries progressed, the Koon surname spread beyond German borders, with families bearing the name settling in various parts of Europe and eventually, the Americas. One notable figure was Carl Koon (1835-1912), a German-American engineer and inventor who played a crucial role in the development of early steam engines and locomotives.

In the realm of literature, the name Koon is associated with the American writer Harry Koon (1892-1976), whose works explored themes of rural life and the struggles of ordinary people in the early 20th century.

While the surname Koon has its roots in the Jewish communities of medieval Germany, it has since transcended its religious origins and can be found among people of diverse backgrounds and nationalities, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koon

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

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

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

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