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

Rhodan, 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 Rhodan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rhodan in America

Rhodan is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rhodan surname appeared 133 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 Rhodan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rhodan 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 Rhodan

The surname Rhodan is believed to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages, likely derived from the Old German word "rodan," which means "to clear land." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who was a farmer or landowner involved in the clearing of forests or other land for agricultural purposes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rhodan can be found in a document from the 13th century, where a man named Heinricus Rhodan is mentioned as a landholder in the region of Bavaria. This provides evidence that the name was already in use and potentially well-established by that time.

In the 15th century, there are records of a prominent family with the surname Rhodan residing in the town of Augsburg, which was a major center of trade and commerce during the Renaissance period. It is possible that this family played a significant role in the local economy and contributed to the spread and recognition of the name.

During the 17th century, a nobleman named Johann Rhodan (1625-1689) gained renown as a military commander and strategist in the service of the Holy Roman Empire. His exploits and achievements may have further elevated the reputation of the Rhodan name across German-speaking lands.

In the 19th century, a notable scientist and explorer named Friedrich Rhodan (1812-1878) made significant contributions to the field of botany and conducted extensive research expeditions in various parts of the world. His work brought further recognition to the Rhodan surname on an international scale.

Another individual of note bearing the Rhodan name was Clara Rhodan (1856-1924), a pioneering women's rights activist and social reformer who played a crucial role in advocating for gender equality and improving educational opportunities for women in Germany during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the Rhodan surname may not be as widespread as some other German names, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, ranging from agriculture and military strategy to science and social activism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rhodan

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

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

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

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