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

Magadan, 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 Magadan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Magadan in America

Magadan is the 31629th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Magadan surname appeared 731 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 Magadan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Magadan 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 Magadan

The surname "MAGADAN" is believed to have originated in Russia, specifically in the Magadan Oblast region of eastern Siberia. It likely emerged during the 18th or 19th century, as Russian settlers and explorers began to populate the remote and inhospitable areas of the Russian Far East.

The name "MAGADAN" is thought to derive from the Even language, spoken by an indigenous Siberian people. It may have originated from the Even word "maga," meaning "fish," reflecting the region's abundant fishing resources and the importance of fishing to the local inhabitants.

Historical records from the early 20th century mention the name "MAGADAN" in connection with the establishment of a Soviet labor camp in the region. The harsh climate and remote location made Magadan an ideal site for the gulag system, and many prisoners were sent there to work in mines, logging camps, and construction projects.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "MAGADAN" was Yakov Magadan, a Soviet official who oversaw the construction of the Kolyma Highway, also known as the "Road of Bones," in the 1930s. This notorious road was built using forced labor from the gulag prisoners, and many of them perished during its construction.

Another notable figure with the "MAGADAN" surname was Nikolai Magadan, a Russian artist and illustrator born in 1859. He is best known for his illustrations in various Russian literary works, including those of Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky.

In the late 19th century, a small settlement named Magadan was established in the region, which later grew into the city of the same name. This place name likely contributed to the spread and recognition of the "MAGADAN" surname.

Other individuals bearing this surname include:

1. Mikhail Magadan (1885-1947), a Russian revolutionary and Soviet politician.
2. Vera Magadan (1912-1995), a Russian ballerina and ballet teacher.
3. Andrei Magadan (born 1963), a Russian football coach and former player.
4. Yelena Magadan (born 1974), a Russian handball player.
5. Vyacheslav Magadan (born 1965), a Russian ice hockey player.

While the "MAGADAN" surname may not be as widespread as some others, it holds a unique connection to the rugged and challenging landscape of eastern Siberia, as well as the turbulent history of the Soviet Union's gulag system.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Magadan

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

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

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

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