Kwan
A Chinese surname meaning "wide, broad, or expansive," often referring to a wide river or expanse of water.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 10,420 Americans carry the last name Kwan. That puts it at #3,966 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 32,894 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kwan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
10K
1 in 32,894
Census rank
#3,966
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
9.0K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 8,965 bearers of the surname Kwan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3966th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kwan, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 90.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.9%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kwan
The surname KWAN originated in China, likely emerging during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese word 'kwan', meaning 'official' or 'mandarin'. The earliest known references to this name can be found in historical records from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname KWAN was Kwan Chung (d. 645 BC), a renowned philosopher and statesman who served as the prime minister of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. His writings and teachings greatly influenced the development of Confucian thought.
Another notable figure was Kwan Yu (162-219 AD), a legendary warrior and one of the most famous generals of the Three Kingdoms period. He was deified as the God of War and is revered in Chinese folk religion and Taoism.
During the Tang Dynasty, the KWAN surname was particularly prominent in the region around modern-day Guangdong province. Several members of the imperial clan bore this name, including Kwan Xiu (832-912 AD), a prominent statesman and poet who served as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in the records of the Mongol Empire, with Kwan Yun-chi (1232-1301 AD) serving as a high-ranking official and diplomat during the reign of Kublai Khan.
The KWAN surname continued to be associated with scholars and officials throughout the Ming (1368-1644 AD) and Qing (1644-1912 AD) dynasties. One notable figure was Kwan Zhongxue (1612-1692 AD), a renowned philosopher and educator who made significant contributions to the Neo-Confucian movement.
As the Chinese diaspora spread across the world, the KWAN surname was carried to various regions, including Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe. While its origins can be traced back to ancient China, the name has become a part of diverse cultural and linguistic traditions over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kwan
Among Census respondents with the surname Kwan, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 90.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.9%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Kwan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kwan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander90.5%
- White4.9%
- Two or more races2.5%
- Hispanic or Latino1.5%
- Black or African American0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kwan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,147 | #3,966 | 4.4% |
| Count | 7,906 | 8,965 | 13.4% |
| Per 100K | 2.93 | 3.04 | 3.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Kwan bearers went from 7,906 to 8,965 (+13.4% change). The surname moved up 181 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,147 to #3,966.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kwan
FAQ
Kwan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kwan?
The surname Kwan holds position #3,966 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 10,420 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kwan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kwan, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 90.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.9%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.