Explore the Family Name Xuan
The meaning of Xuan
Chinese: 1. Mandarin form of the surname 宣: (i) from Xuan (宣), posthumous title of King Xuan of Zhou (reigned 827–782 BC), one of the kings of the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (ii) from Xuan (宣), posthumous title of the Duke Xuan of Song (the 13th ruler of the state of Song, reigned 747–729 BC). (iii) from Xuan Bo (宣伯, ‘Earl Xuan’), posthumous title of Shusun Qiaoru, an official in the state of Lu (located mainly in present-day Shandong province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). In ancient Chinese, 宣 denoted the grand hall of an imperial palace; it was also used to refer to imperial edicts and to an very rare and valuable kind of jade. (Jade is regarded in Chinese culture as an auspicious material that can bring good luck and ward off evil.) These meanings might explain why this Chinese character was sometimes used as a posthumous title by members of royal families. 2. Mandarin form of the surname 禤: possibly traced back to Xuan Chunwang (禤纯旺), an official in the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 AD). This surname is found mainly in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hong Kong. 3. Mandarin form of the surname 玄, meaning ‘mysterious’ in Chinese: (i) said to be traced back to Xuan Xiao (玄霄), son of the legendary emperor Huang Di, the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c.27th century bc). (ii) said to be traced back to Xuan Shou (玄壽), an official during the reign of the legendary emperor Huang Di, the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c.27th century bc). (iii) a Korean surname. 4. Mandarin form of the surname 軒, probably derived from the first element of Xuan Yuan (軒轅), personal name of the legendary emperor Huang Di, the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c.27th century bc).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Xuan in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Xuan has significantly increased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 95,567 in popularity, but by 2010, it had risen to 47,614, marking a 50.18% increase. The number of people with the surname also saw a considerable upsurge over this period, going from 177 in 2000 to 445 in 2010, an increase of 151.41%. Similarly, the proportion of individuals named Xuan per 100k people more than doubled from 0.07 to 0.15 during the same time frame.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #95,567 | #47,614 | 50.18% |
| Count | 177 | 445 | 151.41% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.15 | 114.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Xuan
The ethnicity data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that the vast majority of those with the surname Xuan identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. This ethnic identity group made up 98.31% in 2000 and decreased slightly to 97.53% by 2010. There were no recorded instances of the surname among those identifying as two or more races, white, Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year. It's worth noting that the slight decrease in the percent of Asian/Pacific Islander does not necessarily indicate a significant shift in the ethnic identities associated with the surname Xuan.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 98.31% | 97.53% | -0.79% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| White | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |