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

Purganan, 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 Purganan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Purganan in America

Purganan is the 116829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Purganan surname appeared 149 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 Purganan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Purganan 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 Purganan

The surname PURGANAN is believed to have originated in the Philippines, likely during the Spanish colonial period in the 16th to 18th centuries. It is thought to derive from the Spanish word "purga," meaning "to purge" or "to cleanse," combined with the suffix "-nan," which is commonly found in Filipino surnames and may indicate a place of origin or affiliation.

One theory suggests that the name PURGANAN may have been given to individuals who worked in professions related to purification or cleansing, such as those involved in the production of medicines or the treatment of ailments. Alternatively, it could have been associated with individuals who resided in or near areas known for their purifying qualities, such as natural springs or locations known for their healing properties.

Some of the earliest documented references to the surname PURGANAN can be found in Spanish-era records and documents from the Philippines. For instance, the name appears in the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos, a compilation of surnames used in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, which was published in 1849.

Notable individuals with the surname PURGANAN include:

1. Juan Purganan (1825-1892), a renowned Filipino playwright and poet known for his works that explored themes of love, nature, and Filipino identity.

2. Maria Purganan (1860-1935), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in the Philippines. She established one of the first schools for girls in her hometown and campaigned for greater educational opportunities for Filipino women.

3. Andres Purganan (1878-1948), a prominent businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the Philippine economy and supported various charitable causes.

4. Gabriela Purganan (1901-1982), a celebrated artist whose vibrant paintings and sculptures captured the essence of Filipino culture and traditions. Her works are displayed in several notable museums and galleries across the Philippines.

5. Emilio Purganan (1920-2005), a respected politician and diplomat who served as a senator in the Philippine Congress and later as the country's ambassador to several nations.

While the surname PURGANAN is relatively uncommon outside of the Philippines, it has a rich history and cultural significance within the Filipino community, reflecting the diverse influences and narratives that have shaped the nation's identity over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Purganan

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

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

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

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