2000
#9,027
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,330
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.23
Rare Last name
Roan
A habitational surname derived from places named Roan or Rowan, likely referring to a rowan tree or reddish color.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,582 Americans carry the last name Roan. That puts it at #9,876 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 95,688 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Roan 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 Roan with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
3.6K
1 in 95,688
Census rank
#9,876
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,124 bearers of the surname Roan in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9876th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Roan, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.0%. The next largest groups are Black (11.8%) and Hispanic (5.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Roan
The surname Roan has its roots in England, originating in the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'roan,' meaning reddish-brown or bay colored, referring to the coat color of horses or cattle. This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive surname for someone who worked with or owned reddish-brown animals.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Roan.' This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a detailed survey of landholdings and properties across England. The presence of the name in this historical record indicates that it was already in use among the English population during the 11th century.
Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Roane, Rohan, and Rowen. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the evolving nature of the English language. It is also possible that the name may have been influenced by the French spelling 'Rohan,' as the Norman conquest of England in 1066 brought a significant French influence to the English language and naming traditions.
Historically, the name Roan has been associated with various notable individuals. One such figure was Sir Thomas Roan, a prominent merchant and alderman in London during the 16th century. Born around 1520, he played a significant role in the city's governance and trade affairs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another notable bearer of the surname was William Roan, an English clergyman and academic who lived in the 17th century. Born in 1618, he served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, and was renowned for his scholarly contributions to theology and philosophy.
In the literary realm, the name Roan is associated with the English poet and playwright Michael Roan, who lived from 1628 to 1700. Although not widely celebrated today, his works provide valuable insights into the cultural and literary landscape of 17th-century England.
Moving into the 18th century, we encounter John Roan, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. Born in 1740, he rose to the rank of captain and played a role in several notable naval engagements against the American and French forces.
Lastly, the 19th century saw the prominence of Sir Jonathan Roan, a British industrialist and philanthropist born in 1812. He made significant contributions to the development of the coal mining industry in northern England and was also known for his charitable endeavors, supporting various educational and social initiatives in his local community.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Roan
Among Census respondents with the surname Roan, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.0%. The next largest groups are Black (11.8%) and Hispanic (5.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Roan 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 Roan surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White68.0% · 2,123
- Black or African American11.8% · 368
- Hispanic or Latino5.9% · 184
- American Indian and Alaska Native5.6% · 176
- Asian and Pacific Islander4.7% · 146
- Two or more races4.1% · 127
Timeline
Historical Census data for Roan
Roan 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
#9,073
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,603
+273 bearers (+8.2%)
Per 100,000 1.22
Rank movement Down 46 places
2020
#9,876
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,124
-479 bearers (-13.3%)
Per 100,000 1.05
Rank movement Down 803 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #9,027 | 3,330 | 1.23 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #9,073 | 3,603 | 1.22 | +273 bearers (+8.2%) | Down 46 places |
| 2020 | #9,876 | 3,124 | 1.05 | -479 bearers (-13.3%) | Down 803 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 Roan 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 | #9,073 | #9,876 | -8.9% |
| Count | 3,603 | 3,124 | -13.3% |
| Per 100K | 1.22 | 1.05 | -14.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Roan bearers went from 3,603 to 3,124 (-13.3% change). The surname moved down 803 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,073 to #9,876.
FAQ
Roan surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Roan?
Name Census estimates that about 3,582 living Americans carry the surname Roan. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 95,688 residents.
How common is Roan?
Roan ranks #9,876 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.05 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,124 people with the surname Roan. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,582), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.05 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Roan.
Has Roan become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Roan went from 3,603 recorded bearers to 3,124. That is a decrease of 479 (-13.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #9,073 to #9,876.
What does the Census say about the background of Roan?
Among Census respondents with the surname Roan, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.0%. The next largest groups are Black (11.8%) and Hispanic (5.9%). 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 Roan in the 2020 Census, accounting for 68.0% (2,123 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Roan appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (68.0%), Black (11.8%), Hispanic (5.9%). 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 Roan (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 Roan mean?
A habitational surname derived from places named Roan or Rowan, likely referring to a rowan tree or reddish color. 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 Roan (1.05 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 Americans have the surname Roan?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.