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

Logan, 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 Logan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Logan in America

Logan is the 492nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Logan surname appeared 67,909 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 23 people would have the surname Logan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Logan 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 Logan

The surname Logan has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "lagan," meaning a small hollow or valley. The name was initially used as a locational name, referring to someone who lived near a small valley or depression in the land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Logan can be found in medieval Scottish charters and records. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Logan, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

The Logan surname is closely associated with the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and Lanarkshire. The name is also linked to several place names in these areas, such as Logan in East Ayrshire and Loganhouse in Renfrewshire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Logan family played a prominent role in Scottish history. Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig (c. 1555-1637) was a Scottish writer and conspirator who was implicated in the Gowrie Conspiracy against King James VI of Scotland. Another notable figure was John Logan (1748-1788), a Scottish poet and playwright who wrote the popular tragedy "Runnamede."

The Logan surname also has a strong presence in Ireland, where it is believed to have been introduced by Scottish settlers during the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century. One of the most famous Irish Logans was Sir William Logan (1776-1839), a geologist and founder of the Geological Survey of Canada.

Other notable individuals with the Logan surname include John Logan (1923-1987), an American actor known for his roles in films like "Camelot" and "The Professionals," and James Logan (1674-1751), an American colonial leader and scholar who served as the leader of the Province of Pennsylvania.

Overall, the surname Logan has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Lowlands, with its origins dating back to the 12th century. It has since spread across the British Isles and beyond, carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Logan

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

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

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

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