Explore the Family Name Eapen

The meaning of Eapen

Indian (mainly Kerala and Karnataka): from a shortened form of the personal name Esthappan, the Malayalam form of Stephen. The spelling Esthappan is an example of the tendency in Dravidian languages to replace the medial -ph- consonant cluster with an accented -pp-, while word initial st- is replaced with isth-. Bearers of this surname are said to have converted to Christianity during the first century ad.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Eapen in the United States?

According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Eapen has significantly increased in the United States between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Eapen was ranked at 44,821 among all surnames, but by 2010, it climbed up the ranks to 34,916, showing a 22.1% increase. The actual count of individuals with this surname also rose from 451 in 2000 to 646 in 2010, marking a growth of 43.24%. Correspondingly, the proportion of people named Eapen per 100k of the population also grew by 29.41% over the decade.

20002010Change
Rank#44,821#34,91622.1%
Count45164643.24%
Proportion per 100k0.170.2229.41%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Eapen

In terms of ethnic identity, based on the same Decennial U.S. Census data, most individuals with the surname Eapen identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. This group has seen a slight increase from 91.13% in 2000 to 93.81% in 2010. Individuals identifying as White or belonging to two or more races have decreased over this period, with the White group decreasing by 30.00% and those identifying as two or more races declining by 30.08%. A noteworthy change is the appearance of the American Indian and Alaskan Native group in 2010, which was not present in 2000. However, there were no individuals with the surname Eapen who identified as Black or Hispanic in either 2000 or 2010.

20002010Change
Asian/Pacific Islander91.13%93.81%2.94%
Two or More Races3.99%2.79%-30.08%
White3.1%2.17%-30%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0.93%0%
Hispanic0%0%0%
Black0%0%0%