Explore the Family Name Pagan
The meaning of Pagan
1. Spanish and Catalan: Castilianized form (Pagán) of Catalan Pagà, from the Late Latin personal name Paganus, which as a derivative of Latin pagus ‘outlying village’ originally meant ‘villager’ (see Payne). Alternatively, in some cases, a topographic name from Catalan pagà ‘heath’ (from the same Latin word pagus). 2. English: from the Middle English and Old French personal name Pai(e)n, Pagen, from Late Latin Paganus (see Payne, compare 1 above). Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Luis, Juan, Angel, Carlos, Rafael, Ramon, Pedro, Francisco, Jesus, Miguel, Julio.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Pagan in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Pagan has seen a rise in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 1593rd most popular surname, while in 2010 it moved up to the 1528th position, indicating a growth of 4.08 percent. The count of individuals with this last name also increased from 20,702 to 23,474, marking a surge of 13.39 percent within the decade. The proportion of people named Pagan per 100,000 also slightly rose by 3.78 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,593 | #1,528 | 4.08% |
| Count | 20,702 | 23,474 | 13.39% |
| Proportion per 100k | 7.67 | 7.96 | 3.78% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pagan
Looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname Pagan, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that most bearers were of Hispanic origin in both 2000 and 2010, with an increase from 80.87 percent to 84.60 percent over the 10-year period. Those of White ethnicity saw a decrease from 15.18 percent to 11.99 percent. The number of Pagans of Asian/Pacific Islander descent remained steady at 0.71 percent, while those identifying as Black decreased from 2.39 percent to 2.07 percent. Additionally, the percentage of Pagan individuals who identify as being of two or more races dropped by 25 percent, and those of American Indian and Alaskan Native heritage fell from 0.13 percent to 0.09 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 80.87% | 84.6% | 4.61% |
| White | 15.18% | 11.99% | -21.01% |
| Black | 2.39% | 2.07% | -13.39% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.71% | 0.71% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0.72% | 0.54% | -25% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.13% | 0.09% | -30.77% |
Pagan 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 Pagan is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 45.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (13.4%) and Indigenous American (11.3%). Additional ancestries include French & German, Nigerian, Italian, Senegambian & Guinean, and Angolan & Congolese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Spanish & Portuguese | 45.9% |
| British & Irish | 13.4% |
| Indigenous American | 11.3% |
| Other | 29.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Pagan
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 Pagan have recent ancestry locations all within Puerto Rico.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Arecibo, Puerto Rico | 72.50% |
| Cayey, Puerto Rico | 72.50% |
| San Juan, Puerto Rico | 72.50% |
| San German, Puerto Rico | 72.50% |
| Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico | 72.50% |
What Pagan 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 Pagan is E-L29, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup E-L29 is descended from haplogroup E-M96. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and E-M183, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Aviles, Haro, Chartier, Hance, Bagley, Hoyt, Badillo, Gibbs, Del Rio, Bagwell.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Pagan surname are: A2, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins E-M96Your maternal lineage may be linked to some of the first Americans
Though the Ice Age was beginning to retreat when your A2 ancestors first entered North America, there were still massive barriers blocking their way. Glaciers and inhospitable climate covered much of the continent, blocking entry into the interior. Nonetheless, researchers have found evidence that a wave of American founders migrated over 13,000 kilometers to reach southern Chile in only 2,000 years, a blink of an eye in the story of human migration! Their highway to the south was the coast of the Pacific, stocked with fish, diverse marine mammals, and other valuable resources in the rich kelp forests of the upper latitudes and in the abundant fresh-water rivers near the equator. Because of this rapid movement south, the A2 haplogroup and its diverse branches are found throughout North and South America.
What do people with the surname Pagan 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.
"Pagan" Surname 31.7%
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.
"Pagan" Surname 29.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Pagan" Surname 20.0%
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.
"Pagan" Surname 14.6%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Pagan?
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 Pagan are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition