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

Ran, 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 Ran surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ran in America

Ran is the 31724th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ran surname appeared 728 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 Ran.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ran 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 Ran

The surname RAN is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the northern regions near the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. It likely emerged during the Medieval period, around the 10th to 12th centuries.

One theory suggests that RAN derived from the Old French word "rane," which meant "frog." This could indicate that an early bearer of the name may have lived near a marshy area or had a physical characteristic reminiscent of a frog. Alternatively, it may have been an occupational surname for someone who caught or dealt with frogs.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Rane" and "Ranes" in various documents from the region. By the 14th century, the spelling had evolved to "Ran" and "Rann," which became more common in the following centuries.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Jehan Ran, a farmer mentioned in a land registry from the village of Bailleul, near the city of Lille, in 1327. Another early record is that of Robert Ran, a merchant from Arras, who was mentioned in a trade document dated 1395.

The name RAN can also be traced back to the village of Ranspach in the Alsace region, which was historically part of the Holy Roman Empire. Ranspach is derived from the Germanic words "Ran" and "bach," meaning "frog" and "stream," respectively. It is possible that some bearers of the RAN surname may have originated from this area.

During the 16th century, a notable figure named Jacques Ran (1515-1582) was a prominent lawyer and judge in Paris. He served as the president of the Parlement de Paris, the highest court in France at the time.

In the 17th century, Pierre Ran (1635-1711) was a French Jesuit missionary and explorer who traveled to Canada and worked among the indigenous populations. He documented his experiences in journals that provided valuable insights into the lives of Native Americans.

Another historical figure with the surname RAN was Marie-Thérèse Ran (1725-1803), a French artist and painter who specialized in portraiture and was known for her works depicting members of the French nobility.

In the 19th century, Jean-Baptiste Ran (1810-1878) was a French botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their classification. He published several works on botany and was recognized for his expertise in the field.

The name RAN has also been found in other European countries, such as Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, possibly due to migration patterns or historical connections with France. However, the French origins of the surname remain the most widely accepted theory.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ran

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

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

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

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