2000
#34,711
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 616
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.23
Rare Last name
Zhan
A Chinese surname derived from the word "zhan," meaning a place for troops or military camp.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,621 Americans carry the last name Zhan. That puts it at #12,867 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.76 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 130,772 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zhan 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
2.6K
1 in 130,772
Census rank
#12,867
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,286 bearers of the surname Zhan in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.76 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12867th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zhan, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.3%. The next largest groups are White (3.5%) and Black (0.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zhan
The surname Zhan originates from China and can be traced back to ancient Chinese culture. It is most commonly associated with the Mandarin pinyin transliteration of the Chinese character 詹. The name is believed to have ancient roots in the central plains of China, particularly during the Zhou Dynasty, which existed from 1046 to 256 BC. The character 詹 itself means "to shield" or "to protect," and it historically referred to officials or scholars who were entrusted with protective duties.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Zhan was a recognized surname used by a number of influential families. References to individuals with the surname Zhan can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts from this period, including imperial court records and local gazetteers. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname is found in the Tang Dynasty historical text "New Book of Tang," which documents officials in the imperial government.
An early notable figure with the surname Zhan is Zhan Zhao, a fictional character based on historical accounts from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD). According to legend, Zhan Zhao was a highly skilled and loyal imperial bodyguard, often referred to as "Zhan the Cat." He served under Bao Zheng, a historical magistrate known for his fairness and incorruptibility. The character of Zhan Zhao appears in many Chinese operas and tales, solidifying the name in Chinese cultural history.
Another significant individual is Zhan Tianyou (1861–1919), often hailed as the "father of China's railways." A pioneering engineer, Zhan Tianyou graduated from Yale University and played a critical role in the construction of China's first major railway project, the Jingzhang Railway. His contributions to engineering and transportation have left a lasting legacy in modern China.
In the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), a prominent figure bearing the surname was Zhan Ruoshui (1466-1560). Zhan Ruoshui was an eminent Confucian scholar and philosopher who made substantial contributions to Neo-Confucianism. His works and teachings were influential in shaping Chinese thought and scholarship during his time and beyond.
During the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), the name appears in the records of Zhan Kongying, a renowned scholar and calligrapher known for his literary prowess and artistic achievements. His work encapsulated the traditional Chinese artistic values and contributed significantly to the arts during his lifetime.
In the early 20th century, a well-known individual was Zhan Shichai (1841-1893), also known as the "Chang Woo Gow" or the "Chinese Giant." Standing at 8 feet 2 inches tall, he was a notable figure in western popular culture, performing in circuses and exhibitions in Europe and the United States. His unique stature made the name Zhan recognizable in various parts of the world.
Throughout its history, the surname Zhan has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from ancient bureaucratic roles to modern engineering and the arts. These historical figures have collectively played a role in preserving and highlighting the cultural and intellectual heritage associated with the surname Zhan.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zhan
Among Census respondents with the surname Zhan, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.3%. The next largest groups are White (3.5%) and Black (0.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Zhan 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 Zhan surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander95.3% · 2,178
- White3.5% · 81
- Black or African American0.6% · 13
- Two or more races0.4% · 9
- Hispanic or Latino0.2% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zhan
Zhan appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#23,120
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,104
+488 bearers (+79.2%)
Per 100,000 0.37
Rank movement Up 11,591 places
2020
#12,867
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,286
+1,182 bearers (+107.1%)
Per 100,000 0.76
Rank movement Up 10,253 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #34,711 | 616 | 0.23 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #23,120 | 1,104 | 0.37 | +488 bearers (+79.2%) | Up 11,591 places |
| 2020 | #12,867 | 2,286 | 0.76 | +1,182 bearers (+107.1%) | Up 10,253 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 Zhan 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 | #23,120 | #12,867 | 44.3% |
| Count | 1,104 | 2,286 | 107.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.37 | 0.76 | 106.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zhan bearers went from 1,104 to 2,286 (+107.1% change). The surname moved up 10,253 positions in the national ranking, going from #23,120 to #12,867.
FAQ
Zhan surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zhan?
Name Census estimates that about 2,621 living Americans carry the surname Zhan. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 130,772 residents.
How common is Zhan?
Zhan ranks #12,867 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.76 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,286 people with the surname Zhan. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,621), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.76 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.76 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Zhan.
Has Zhan become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zhan went from 1,104 recorded bearers to 2,286. That is an increase of 1,182 (+107.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #23,120 to #12,867.
What does the Census say about the background of Zhan?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zhan, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.3%. The next largest groups are White (3.5%) and Black (0.6%). 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?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zhan in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.3% (2,178 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zhan appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (95.3%), White (3.5%), Black (0.6%). 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 Zhan (2000, 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 Zhan mean?
A Chinese surname derived from the word "zhan," meaning a place for troops or military camp. 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 Zhan (0.76 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 have the last name Zhan?
If you just want to know how many people have the last name Zhan, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.