2010
#138,304
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Verjan
A surname potentially derived from a Dutch or German place name.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Verjan. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Verjan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Verjan in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Verjan, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 87.6%. The next largest groups are White (9.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Verjan
The surname "VERJAN" is believed to have originated in the region of Friesland, which is located in the northwestern part of the Netherlands and the adjoining areas of northern Germany. The name can be traced back to the 16th century, and it is thought to be derived from the Frisian word "ferjen," meaning "to carry" or "to transport."
In the early days, the name was likely associated with individuals involved in the transportation industry, such as ferrymen, boatmen, or those who carried goods and people across rivers and canals. The Frisian region was known for its extensive waterway systems, making transportation a vital aspect of daily life and commerce.
Historical records indicate that the name "VERJAN" appeared in several Dutch and German documents dating back to the 1500s and 1600s. One notable example is the mention of a "Pieter Verjan" in the village records of Leeuwarden, Friesland, in the year 1587. This entry suggests that individuals bearing this surname were already well-established in the region during that time period.
The earliest recorded variant of the name was "Feerjan," which was likely influenced by the Frisian pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. As the name spread to other regions and evolved over time, it took on various spellings, such as "Verjan," "Veerjan," and "Vergen."
One notable individual with the surname "VERJAN" was Johannes Verjan (1630-1692), a Dutch painter and engraver who was born in Amsterdam. His works were primarily focused on landscapes and cityscapes, and many of his engravings depicted scenes of daily life in the Netherlands during the 17th century.
Another individual of historical significance was Pieter Verjan (1675-1739), a Dutch-born merchant and explorer who traveled extensively in the East Indies and the Pacific region. He is credited with establishing trade routes and promoting Dutch colonial interests in the region.
In the 19th century, a family by the name of Verjan gained prominence in the city of Bremen, Germany. Hans Verjan (1825-1902) was a successful businessman and philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of the city's infrastructure and social welfare programs.
Another notable figure was Johanna Verjan (1860-1932), a Dutch educator and activist who played a pivotal role in advocating for women's rights and access to education in the Netherlands. She founded several schools and established organizations dedicated to improving the lives of women and children.
The surname "VERJAN" can also be found in historical records from other parts of Europe, such as France and Belgium, although its origins and prevalence in those regions are less documented. Nonetheless, the name's strong ties to the Frisian region of the Netherlands remain a significant part of its historical legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Verjan
Among Census respondents with the surname Verjan, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 87.6%. The next largest groups are White (9.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Verjan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Verjan surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino87.6% · 106
- White9.9% · 12
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.7% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Verjan
Verjan appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 3,005 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #138,304 | 121 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 3,005 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Verjan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #138,304 | #141,309 | -2.2% |
| Count | 121 | 121 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Verjan bearers went from 121 to 121 (+0.0% change). The surname moved down 3,005 positions in the national ranking, going from #138,304 to #141,309.
FAQ
Verjan surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Verjan?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Verjan. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Verjan?
Verjan ranks #141,309 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 121 people with the surname Verjan. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Verjan.
Has Verjan become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Verjan went from 121 recorded bearers to 121. That is an increase of 0 (+0.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #138,304 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Verjan?
Among Census respondents with the surname Verjan, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 87.6%. The next largest groups are White (9.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Verjan in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.6% (106 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Verjan appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (87.6%), White (9.9%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Verjan (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Verjan mean?
A surname potentially derived from a Dutch or German place name. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Verjan (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Verjan?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.