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

Rodan, 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 Rodan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rodan in America

Rodan is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rodan surname appeared 194 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 Rodan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rodan 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 Rodan

The surname RODAN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely as a locational name derived from a place name or a topographical feature. One possible origin is from the Old English word "rod," meaning a clearing or a rode, combined with the suffix "-an," indicating a place or settlement. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a clearing or a rode.

Another theory suggests that the name RODAN may be a variant of the name RODHAM, which is thought to have originated from the Old English word "rod," meaning a cross or a rood, and "ham," meaning a homestead or a village. This could indicate that the name referred to a settlement or homestead located near a cross or a rood.

The earliest recorded instances of the name RODAN can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, dated around 1273, which lists a person named Radulfus de Rodene, indicating a potential connection to a place name similar to RODAN.

During the Tudor period, in the 16th century, there are records of a family named RODAN residing in the county of Essex. One prominent member of this family was Sir John RODAN (c. 1510-1582), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Maldon in 1559.

In the 17th century, the RODAN name appeared in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. Notable individuals from this period include Reverend Thomas RODAN (1630-1693), a clergyman and author from Somerset, and William RODAN (1655-1718), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol.

Moving into the 18th century, the RODAN surname gained further prominence with the birth of James RODAN (1730-1805), a notable English artist and engraver who was known for his landscapes and portraits. Another individual of note was John RODAN (1745-1818), a military officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the RODAN name continued to be found across various regions of England, with some individuals emigrating to other parts of the world. One such individual was Robert RODAN (1822-1890), a British explorer and naturalist who conducted expeditions in Africa and South America, contributing to the field of natural history.

While the RODAN surname may have had a relatively small presence compared to more common English surnames, it has left its mark on history through various notable individuals and their contributions across various fields, from politics and religion to art and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rodan

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

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

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

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