Explore the Family Name Hans
The meaning of Hans
1. German and Dutch: from the personal name Hans, a shortened form of Johannes (see John). This surname is also found in France (Vosges, Alsace, Lorraine, and Nord). It is also borne by Ashkenazic Jews, presumably as an adoption of the German or Dutch surname. 2. Indian (Punjab): Arora and Sikh name, from Sanskrit hamsa ‘swan’ or ‘goose’. Some characteristic forenames: Indian Ananta, Bhim, Chander, Gopal, Madhur, Malkit, Nirmal, Preet, Puneet, Ravi, Rohit, Roop. German Erwin, Guenther, Helmut, Gerhard, Hermann, Klaus, Kurt, Manfred, Merwin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Hans in the United States?
The surname 'Hans' has seen an increase in popularity in the United States. According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, in 2000, it was ranked 7691, and by 2010 it had risen to 7516, marking a 2.28% increase. The count of people with the Hans surname also grew from 3991 in 2000 to 4427 in 2010, a growth of 10.92%. The proportion per 100k population slightly increased from 1.48 to 1.5, demonstrating a gradual rise in its prominence.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,691 | #7,516 | 2.28% |
| Count | 3,991 | 4,427 | 10.92% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.48 | 1.5 | 1.35% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Hans
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Hans', changes are evident over the decade. Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders with this surname nearly doubled from 5.39% in 2000 to 10.23% in 2010. Conversely, there was a marginal decline in those identifying as White, from 87.02% to 81.82%, and American Indian and Alaskan Native, decreasing by 39.47%. There was also a modest increase among Hispanics, from 2.15% to 3.00%. For those identifying as Black or two or more races, the percentages remained relatively stable.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87.02% | 81.82% | -5.98% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 5.39% | 10.23% | 89.8% |
| Black | 3.28% | 3.23% | -1.52% |
| Hispanic | 2.15% | 3% | 39.53% |
| Two or More Races | 1.78% | 1.49% | -16.29% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.38% | 0.23% | -39.47% |
Hans ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Hans is French & German, which comprises 31.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (30.0%) and Ashkenazi Jewish (10.0%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Northern Indian & Pakistani, Italian, Scandinavian, and Greek & Balkan.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 31.0% |
| British & Irish | 30.0% |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 10.0% |
| Other | 29.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Hans
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Hans have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 62.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 62.60% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 62.60% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 62.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 62.60% |
What Hans haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Hans is R-P312, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P312 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-Z381 and R-Z645, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Deutsch, Ullman, Haber, Hartz, Denis, Lesser, Geisler, Berner, Schlegel, Ingle.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Hans surname are: M, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Hans have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Hans" Surname 38.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Hans" Surname 18.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Hans" Surname 19.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Hans" Surname 18.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Hans?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Hans are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition