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

Lian, 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 Lian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lian in America

Lian is the 10678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lian surname appeared 2,995 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Lian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lian 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 Lian

The surname LIAN has its origins in China, dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have originated from the Chinese word "蓮" (lián), which means "lotus flower". The lotus flower holds significant symbolism in Chinese culture, representing purity, elegance, and spiritual enlightenment.

In ancient Chinese records, the name LIAN can be found in various historical documents and local gazetteers. One of the earliest recorded mentions is in the "Xin Tang Shu" (New Book of Tang), a famous historical text from the 11th century, which documents the achievements and lineages of prominent families during the Tang Dynasty.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the LIAN family gained prominence in the region of Zhejiang Province, particularly in the cities of Hangzhou and Shaoxing. One notable figure from this period was Lian Xizhen (1020-1091), a renowned Neo-Confucian philosopher and author who made significant contributions to the development of Chinese thought.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the LIAN surname spread across various regions of China. One prominent individual was Lian Qian (1572-1623), a renowned playwright and writer who authored several influential works, including the play "The Peony Pavilion".

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the LIAN family continued to play a role in Chinese society. One notable figure was Lian Mengzheng (1799-1868), a scholar and official who served as a high-ranking minister in the imperial court.

Another prominent individual with the LIAN surname was Lian Zhan (1601-1673), a Ming-Qing transition era painter known for his exquisite landscape paintings and calligraphic works.

Throughout history, the LIAN surname has also been associated with various place names and locations across China. For example, the town of Lianzhou in Guangdong Province is believed to have derived its name from the LIAN surname.

While the surname LIAN has its roots in Chinese culture, it has also been adopted and integrated into other regions and cultures around the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the core meaning and historical significance of the name remains deeply rooted in its Chinese origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lian

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

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

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

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