Explore the Family Name Awan
The meaning of Awan
Muslim (Pakistan): ethnic name from the name of the Punjabi Awan tribe, which is most likely derived from the plural form of the Arabic word ʿaun ‘help, aid’, thus defining the historical role of the tribal members as ‘helpers, aids’. This is the almost exclusive surname in the Awan Patti valley in Kashmir, settled with the Awans from Punjab in the 19th century. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Malik, Mohammad, Azhar, Muhammad, Khalid, Akhtar, Ghulam, Javed, Mushtaq, Abdul, Aftab, Amir.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Awan in the United States?
The surname Awan has seen an increase in popularity in the United States, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the Awan surname was ranked 22,443 in popularity with a count of 1070 individuals carrying this surname, equivalent to 0.4 per 100k people. By 2010, the rank had moved up to 17,290 with a 22.96% change. The number of people with the Awan surname also increased by 52.99% to 1637 individuals, raising its proportion to 0.55 per 100k.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,443 | #17,290 | 22.96% |
| Count | 1,070 | 1,637 | 52.99% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.4 | 0.55 | 37.5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Awan
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Awan, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that it is primarily linked with the Asian/Pacific Islander community. In 2000, 70% of individuals with the Awan surname were of Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity, and this figure rose to 82.47% in 2010, marking a 17.81% change. There was a significant decrease in those identifying as two or more races, falling from 16.45% to 5.01%. Those who identified as White dropped from 8.13% to 6.35%, while the percentage of Hispanics and Blacks saw slight increases, to 3.18% and 2.57% respectively. For the first time in 2010, 0.43% of Awans identified as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 70% | 82.47% | 17.81% |
| White | 8.13% | 6.35% | -21.89% |
| Two or More Races | 16.45% | 5.01% | -69.54% |
| Hispanic | 2.99% | 3.18% | 6.35% |
| Black | 2.43% | 2.57% | 5.76% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.43% | 0% |