2000
#31,774
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 687
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.25
Very Rare Last name
Blan
A short French surname derived from the word blanc, meaning white or fair.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 827 Americans carry the last name Blan. That puts it at #33,925 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 414,455 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Blan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Blan with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
827
1 in 414,455
Census rank
#33,925
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
721
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 721 bearers of the surname Blan in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 33925th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Blan, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.9%) and Black (10.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Blan
The surname BLAN has its origins in France, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "blan," which means "white" or "blond." This surname was likely initially used as a nickname or descriptive name to identify individuals with fair hair or a pale complexion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the BLAN surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Blaun" and "Blawn," reflecting the phonetic variations common during that time.
In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the BLAN surname was Jean Blan, a French poet and troubadour who lived from around 1230 to 1290. His works provide valuable insights into the literary and cultural traditions of medieval France.
During the Renaissance period, the BLAN surname gained prominence in the arts and literature. One notable bearer was François Blan (c. 1500-1570), a French painter known for his vivid portraits and religious works, which can be found in several European galleries and museums.
In the 17th century, the BLAN surname appeared in various historical records, including parish registers and legal documents. One noteworthy individual was Pierre Blan (1625-1698), a French architect who contributed to the design of several prominent buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall).
Moving into the 18th century, the BLAN surname gained recognition in the field of science and exploration. Jacques Blan (1730-1799) was a French naturalist and explorer who accompanied several expeditions to the Americas, making significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the New World.
Throughout history, the BLAN surname has been associated with various place names and locations, often reflecting the migration patterns of families bearing this name. For instance, the village of Blancourt in northern France is believed to have derived its name from the BLAN surname, suggesting the presence of families with this name in the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Blan
Among Census respondents with the surname Blan, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.9%) and Black (10.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Blan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Blan surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White68.5% · 494
- Hispanic or Latino13.9% · 100
- Black or African American10.0% · 72
- Two or more races3.9% · 28
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.6% · 19
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1% · 8
Timeline
Historical Census data for Blan
Blan appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#32,485
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 708
+21 bearers (+3.1%)
Per 100,000 0.24
Rank movement Down 711 places
2020
#33,925
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 721
+13 bearers (+1.8%)
Per 100,000 0.24
Rank movement Down 1,440 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #31,774 | 687 | 0.25 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #32,485 | 708 | 0.24 | +21 bearers (+3.1%) | Down 711 places |
| 2020 | #33,925 | 721 | 0.24 | +13 bearers (+1.8%) | Down 1,440 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Blan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,485 | #33,925 | -4.4% |
| Count | 708 | 721 | 1.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Blan bearers went from 708 to 721 (+1.8% change). The surname moved down 1,440 positions in the national ranking, going from #32,485 to #33,925.
FAQ
Blan surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Blan?
Name Census estimates that about 827 living Americans carry the surname Blan. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 414,455 residents.
How common is Blan?
Blan ranks #33,925 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 721 people with the surname Blan. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (827), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.24 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.24 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Blan.
Has Blan become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Blan went from 708 recorded bearers to 721. That is an increase of 13 (+1.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #32,485 to #33,925.
What does the Census say about the background of Blan?
Among Census respondents with the surname Blan, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.9%) and Black (10.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Blan in the 2020 Census, accounting for 68.5% (494 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Blan appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (68.5%), Hispanic (13.9%), Black (10.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Blan (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Blan mean?
A short French surname derived from the word blanc, meaning white or fair. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Blan (0.24 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Blan?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Blan on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.