Surname · Korean origin
Han
Meaning
The surname Han means Korea; a state (韓).
Origin
Korean
Type
clan name
U.S. rank (2010)
#1,617
U.S. bearers (2010)
20,318
How common is it?
Han ranks #1,617 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 20,318 people.
The origin of the surname Han
Han is written with the hanja 韓, the name of ancient states and of Korea itself.
How Korean surnames work
Korean surnames are few in number but shared by huge populations — Kim, Lee (Yi) and Park alone account for a large share of all Koreans. Each is written with a hanja (a Chinese-origin character) and is tied to a clan or lineage identified by an ancestral seat (bongwan). The surname comes first, before the given name, and Korean women traditionally keep their own surname after marriage.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Han mean?
The surname Han means Korea; a state (韓). Han is written with the hanja 韓, the name of ancient states and of Korea itself.
Where does the surname Han come from?
Han is a surname of Korean origin.
What kind of surname is Han?
Han is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Han in the United States?
Han ranks #1,617 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 20,318 people.