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

Schwan, 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 Schwan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Schwan in America

Schwan is the 14545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Schwan surname appeared 2,049 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Schwan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Schwan 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 Schwan

The surname Schwan originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It likely derived from the German word "Schwan," which means "swan," suggesting that the name may have been associated with a location or area where swans were commonly found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Schwan can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various medieval records and documents. During this period, surnames were often derived from occupations, nicknames, or geographic locations, and it is possible that the name Schwan was initially given to someone who lived near a body of water frequented by swans or someone who was involved in activities related to these graceful birds.

In the 14th century, the name Schwan appeared in the Berner Schriften, a collection of official records from the city of Bern, Switzerland. This early reference suggests that the name had spread beyond the borders of Germany and was established in various regions of Central Europe.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname Schwan was Konrad Schwan, a prominent German theologian and reformer who lived from 1471 to 1552. Konrad played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and was a close associate of Martin Luther.

Another notable figure with the surname Schwan was Johann Schwan, a German composer and organist who lived from 1592 to 1622. Johann was renowned for his contributions to the development of the Lutheran church music tradition and was particularly known for his choral works.

In the 18th century, Johann Gottfried Schwan (1723-1778) was a German-born American botanist and entomologist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and insects in the American colonies. His work played a crucial role in the advancement of scientific knowledge during that era.

The surname Schwan also has connections to various place names and geographic locations throughout Germany and neighboring regions. For instance, the town of Schwaan in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, may have derived its name from the presence of swans in the area, and it is possible that the surname Schwan originated from this or a similar location.

While the surname Schwan has a rich history and can be traced back several centuries, it is important to note that individuals with this last name have made significant contributions across various fields, including religion, music, science, and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Schwan

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

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

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

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