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

Schwahn, 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 Schwahn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schwahn in America

Schwahn is the 56588th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schwahn surname appeared 361 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 Schwahn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schwahn 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 Schwahn

The surname Schwahn is of German origin, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century in the northern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around Mecklenburg and Pomerania. The name is believed to be derived from the Old German word "schwan," meaning "swan," possibly indicating that the original bearer of the name lived near a body of water frequented by swans or had some association with these graceful birds.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Schwahn surname was Hans Schwahn, a merchant who lived in the town of Rostock in the 16th century. Records from the time mention his involvement in trade activities with other Baltic cities, suggesting that the name may have been associated with commercial endeavors.

In the 17th century, the name Schwahn appeared in various records and manuscripts, including church registers and property deeds, in towns and villages across northern Germany. One notable mention is found in the chronicles of the city of Stralsund, where a certain Johann Schwahn is recorded as having served as a city councilor in the late 1600s.

The 18th century saw the Schwahn name spread further afield, with records indicating families bearing this surname in regions such as Silesia and East Prussia. One prominent figure from this era was Friedrich Schwahn, a Lutheran theologian and author born in 1728 in Pomerania, who wrote extensively on religious matters and served as a pastor in several parishes.

As the 19th century dawned, the Schwahn surname continued to be prevalent in northern Germany, with individuals from this lineage making their mark in various fields. One such individual was Carl Schwahn, a renowned architect born in 1825 in Berlin, who was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft and the Neue Synagoge in Berlin.

Another notable bearer of the Schwahn name was Ernst Schwahn, a German naval officer and explorer who lived from 1837 to 1916. He participated in several maritime expeditions and was instrumental in mapping and charting various coastal regions, contributing significantly to the advancement of navigation and cartography during his time.

While the Schwahn surname has its roots firmly planted in northern Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, the historical records and instances mentioned above serve as a testament to the rich heritage and legacy of this surname, which has endured through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schwahn

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

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

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

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