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

Tanas, 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 Tanas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tanas in America

Tanas is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tanas surname appeared 128 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 Tanas.

The history of the last name Tanas

The surname TANAS has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically in the Baltic region. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. The name may have derived from the Lithuanian word "tanas," which means "path" or "way," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have lived near a particular path or route.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TANAS surname can be found in the Prussian Lands Register from the 15th century, where it was spelled as "Tanasch." This document recorded the names of landowners and residents in the region, indicating that the TANAS family had established roots in the area during that time.

In the 16th century, the TANAS surname appeared in various Lithuanian and Polish records, including parish registers and tax documents. One notable individual bearing this surname was Mykolas TANAS, a Lithuanian nobleman born in 1541, who served as a courtier to the Grand Duke of Lithuania.

As the surname spread across Eastern Europe, variations in spelling emerged, such as "Tanash," "Tanasch," and "Tanashevich." These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and linguistic differences between neighboring countries.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Juozas TANAS (1712-1789) rose to prominence in Lithuania. He was a renowned scholar and philosopher, known for his contributions to the field of ethics and moral philosophy.

Another noteworthy bearer of the TANAS surname was Kazys TANAS (1853-1920), a Lithuanian writer and poet who played a significant role in the Lithuanian National Revival movement. His works celebrated the country's rich cultural heritage and helped to promote the Lithuanian language and literature.

During the 19th century, the TANAS surname also appeared in Russian records, as many families migrated eastward in search of better opportunities. One such individual was Ivan TANAS (1829-1901), a Russian merchant and industrialist who established a successful trading company in Moscow.

As time passed, the TANAS surname continued to spread across various regions, with descendants settling in different parts of Europe and beyond. While its origins can be traced back to the Baltic region, the TANAS name has left an indelible mark on the histories of several countries and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tanas

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

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 Tanas 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!