Meaning and origin
Derived from the Turkic title for a sovereign or ruler, it was adopted by many different ethnic groups and dynasties over time, including the Mongols, Turks, Persians, and Afghans. The prominence of the name was further enhanced by the conquests of Genghis Khan and his descendants, who established one of the largest empires in history. The name Khan continues to hold significance in various cultures, signifying power, leadership, and nobility.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#427
Khan was the 427th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 76,171 people, about 26 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Khan
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Khan is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.