Origin of your surname and forename !
NomOrigine

Last Name Kahan

Discover my family history now

What is the origin of the last name Kahan?

The surname Kahan is of Ashkenazic Jewish origin, derived from the Yiddish word "kahane," which means priest or temple official. It was often adopted as a surname by individuals belonging to the Kohanim (priestly) caste within the Jewish community. This name can also be found in various forms, such as Cohen, Cahn, and Kahen, reflecting its adoption among different Jewish communities over time.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Kahan

The meaning and origin of the last name Kahan

The surname Kahan is of Hebrew origin, derived from the word "kahane" which means priest. It is commonly found among Ashkenazi Jews, particularly those from Eastern Europe. The name was often given to families who served as priests or temple functionaries in Jewish communities before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD. Over time, the name spread beyond Israel and became a common last name for Jewish families throughout Europe and eventually the rest of the world. Today, Kahan is a widely recognized surname with variations such as Cohen, Cahn, and Kan among others, and it continues to be predominantly found in Jewish communities.

Geographical distribution of the last name Kahan

The surname Kahan is predominantly found among Jews of Ashkenazi origin, with significant concentrations in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, Russia, and Lithuania. It's also common in Israel due to the large Jewish diaspora from these regions. Over time, individuals with the surname Kahan have migrated and established communities in various parts of the world. In North America, significant populations can be found in the United States and Canada, particularly in urban centers like New York City, Montreal, and Toronto. Smaller groups can also be found in Australia, South Africa, and the UK. The distribution of the surname Kahan reflects historical Jewish migration patterns and the diaspora from Europe to other parts of the world.

Variants and spellings of the last name Kahan

The surname Kahan has several variations and spellings across different regions and cultures. Some common variations include Kahane, Kahen, and Kehane, which are primarily found among people of Jewish descent. The spelling Kahanon is also used, although it is less common. Additionally, there may be regional variations such as Kahanen (Finland) or MacKahan (Ireland), though these are more rare. It's important to note that surnames can change over time due to factors like immigration, assimilation, and transcription errors, leading to a variety of spellings for the same name.

Famous people with the last name Kahan

Notable individuals bearing the surname Kahan include:

1. Charles L. Kahan (1936-2014), an American physicist known for his contributions to plasma physics and fusion energy research. He was a longtime staff scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

2. Doron Kahan, a professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, with a focus on ethics, corporate governance, and business and society.

3. Irwin Kahan (1925-2014), a Canadian economist who served as the Chief Economist of the International Labour Organization from 1976 to 1986. He was instrumental in promoting full employment policies worldwide.

4. Marc Kahan, a French economist known for his work on game theory, evolutionary economics, and cooperative decision making. He is a professor at Paris Dauphine University.

5. Richard Kahan (born 1937), an American computer scientist who was one of the early pioneers in artificial intelligence research. He has made significant contributions to logic programming and computational linguistics.

6. Yitzhak Kahan (1943-2020), an Israeli military commander and politician. He served as a general in the Israel Defense Forces, and later as a member of the Knesset for Likud.

Genealogical research on the last name Kahan

The Kahan surname is of Jewish origin, originally derived from the Hebrew word "kahane" meaning priest or Levite. The name can be traced back to medieval times in Eastern Europe, particularly in present-day Poland and Lithuania. Many Kahan families migrated westward during the 19th century due to religious persecution and economic hardship, with significant populations settling in Germany, England, and America. In the United States, the name became more common following waves of immigration in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Kahan family name has been associated with notable figures such as mathematician Simon Kahan and actor David Kahan. Genealogical research suggests that variations of the name, including Cohen-Kahan, Kehana, and Kehane, share a common ancestry.

Last name distribution maps

Chargement de la carte...

NomOrigine Team
About the author :

NomOrigine Team

Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.

Last updated :

Share the origin of your last name with your friends

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Messenger Telegram

Search the origin of a family name

Enter the surname you are looking for below:

Similar Last Names

#1 Kah

Last name • surnames > kah

The surname "Kah" is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "kah" meaning "thin" or "slender". The name may have originally been a nickname for a person w...

#2 Kaha

Last name • surnames > kaha

The last name "Kaha" is of Hawaiian origin. In the Hawaiian language, "kaha" can mean various things such as "place," "spot," or "location." It is common for Hawaiian surnames to h...

#3 Kahadar

Last name • surnames > kahadar

The last name "Kahadar" is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "khadar" which means green or fertile land. It is commonly found in countries with Arabic-speaking populations.

#4 Kahak

Last name • surnames > kahak

The last name "Kahak" is of Hawaiian origin, derived from the Hawaiian word "kahakai" which means "the beach" or "seashore."

#5 Kahal

Last name • surnames > kahal

The surname "Kahal" is of Hebrew origin, derived from the word "kahan" which means "priest." It is believed to be an occupational surname indicating a descendant of or a servant to...

#6 Kahale

Last name • surnames > kahale

The surname "Kahale" originates from Hawaiian language and means "house" or "home." It is a common surname in Hawaii and is often used to denote someone's place of origin or family...

#7 Kahalfan

Last name • surnames > kahalfan

The surname Kahalfan is of Arabic origin. It is derived from the personal name Khalfan, which means "successor" or "heir" in Arabic.

#8 Kahambrah

Last name • surnames > kahambrah

The surname Kahambrah is of Arabic origin. It is believed to be derived from the word "Kaham" which means wise or knowledgeable in Arabic.

#9 Kahani

Last name • surnames > kahani

The last name Kahani originates from Persian and Hebrew. In Persian, "Kahani" means storyteller or storyteling, while in Hebrew it means priestly house or story.

#10 Kahankabaani

Last name • surnames > kahankabaani

The surname Kahankabaani appears to be of Persian origin. It is believed to be a compound surname, with "Kahan" potentially referring to a title or profession, and "Kabaani" likely...

#11 Kahar miah

Last name • surnames > kahar-miah

The last name Kahar Miah is of Bangladeshi origin. "Kahar" is a surname commonly found in the Chittagong region of Bangladesh, while "Miah" is a common surname in many parts of the...

#12 Kahari

Last name • surnames > kahari

Kahari is a Finnish surname, derived from the word "kahari" meaning "curved" or "bent." It is likely to have originated as a descriptive or occupational surname for someone who liv...

#13 Kahatre

Last name • surnames > kahatre

The last name "Kahatre" is of Indian origin and is derived from the Marathi word meaning "forehead." It is often used as a surname by individuals belonging to the Marathi ethnic gr...

#14 Kaheila

Last name • surnames > kaheila

The last name "Kaheila" is of Arabic origin. It is derived from the Arabic word "kaheel," which means "generous" or "noble." This surname is often found in Arabic-speaking countrie...

#15 Kahel

Last name • surnames > kahel

The last name "Kahel" is of Hebrew origin. It is a surname originating from the Hebrew word "kāḥēl", which means "blue" or "azure".