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

Kukan, 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 Kukan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kukan in America

Kukan is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kukan surname appeared 110 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 Kukan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kukan 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 Kukan

The surname Kukan is of Croatian origin, emerging in the medieval period around the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the old Croatian word "kuka," which means "hook" or "curved shape." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with a distinguishing physical feature or occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a 14th-century document from the coastal town of Trogir, where a certain Ivan Kukan is mentioned as a fisherman. This lends credence to the theory that the name may have initially referred to those involved in fishing or maritime activities, perhaps using hooks or curved tools.

In the 16th century, the name is found in various records from the Dalmatian region, including the town of Šibenik. A notable example is Juraj Kukan (1495-1562), a renowned Renaissance poet and playwright who wrote in both Croatian and Latin.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name spread across the Balkans, with instances found in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In Serbia, the Kukan family was prominent in the town of Novi Sad, with Jovan Kukan (1645-1712) serving as a respected magistrate and community leader.

In the 19th century, the name appeared in various parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including modern-day Croatia, Slovenia, and Hungary. One notable figure was Antun Kukan (1817-1889), a Croatian lawyer and politician who played a significant role in the Croatian National Revival movement.

As Croatians and other Slavic peoples emigrated to other parts of the world, the name Kukan also spread to new regions. For instance, in the early 20th century, Ivan Kukan (1892-1974) was a Croatian-American entrepreneur who founded a successful construction company in New York City.

Throughout its history, the surname Kukan has maintained a strong presence in its homeland, with numerous individuals bearing the name contributing to various fields, including literature, politics, law, and business. While its origins may have been humble, the name has endured as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Croatian people and their diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kukan

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

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

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

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