Explore the Family Name Ian
The meaning of Ian
1. Scottish: shortened and altered form of Gaelic Mac Gille Sheathain ‘son of the servant of Iain’, the Gaelic form of John. 2. Chinese: variant of Yan.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ian in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Ian" has grown significantly in popularity over the years. In 2000, it was ranked 121,780th among all surnames, with a count of 131 and a proportion per 100k population of 0.05. By 2010, its rank improved to 90,113, the count increased by over half to 205 and the proportion per 100k rose to 0.07, showing a 40% increase. This indicates that more people are adopting or being given this surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #121,780 | #90,113 | 26% |
| Count | 131 | 205 | 56.49% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.05 | 0.07 | 40% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ian
The ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Ian' also shifted between the 2000 and 2010 Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage of Asians/Pacific Islanders with this surname decreased by 16.34%, from 41.98% to 35.12%. The percentage of individuals identifying as White with this surname saw a sizable increase of 25.56%, from 43.51% to 54.63%. Those identifying as Black slightly decreased from 6.87% to 6.34%. Hispanic representation appeared for the first time in 2010 at 2.93%, while those identifying as two or more races went down to zero from 3.82% in 2000. There were no recorded instances of American Indian and Alaskan Natives with this surname in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 43.51% | 54.63% | 25.56% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 41.98% | 35.12% | -16.34% |
| Black | 6.87% | 6.34% | -7.71% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.93% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 3.82% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |