Show ContentsKhan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Schleswig-Holstein, which is the northernmost state in western Germany, is the homeland of the proud surname Khan. Schleswig, which was included in the empire of the Franks as the "Danemark," was a northern border protectorate against the Danish Vikings. The duchy of Holstein was settled by the German Saxons during the 6th century. The Danemark, however, was granted to the Danes by Emperor Conrad II (990-1039), and the remainder of Schleswig-Holstein's history has revolved around the political question of Danish or German control of this region. Following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the two duchies were incorporated into Denmark. However, the Congress Of Vienna in 1815 granted the Holstein and Lauenburg to the German Confederation. In 1866, Schleswig-Holstein became a Prussian province and it became a part of the German Empire after the unification of 1871. After the First World War, a part of Northern Schleswig was restored to Denmark after the majority of the population had voted for reunion with Denmark.

Early Origins of the Khan family

The surname Khan was first found in Schleswig-Holstein, where the family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation and would later play a large role in the political conflicts of the area. The family branched into many houses, many of which acquired estates and manors throughout the surrounding regions, where they played significant roles in the social and political affairs. "Kahn" or "Kan" is a north German word meaning "skiff" or "barge."

Early History of the Khan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Khan research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1377, 1390, 1400, 1402, 1412 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Khan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Khan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kahn, Kaehne, Kahne, Kan, Cahn, Caehne, Kaehn, Kehn, Kahns, Kahnes and many more.

Early Notables of the Khan family

Notables of the time included

  • Gün Temür (1377-1402), Mongol Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia, He ruled from 1400 to 1402, he was defeated by Gulichi (1402), who killed him as a result
  • Dilawar (Dilawar Khan Ghori), governor of the Malwa province of central India during the decline of the Delhi Sultanate, after serving at the court in Delhi, appointed governor at Dhar (1390-91), took...
  • Orug Temur Khan (Gulichi), Mongol leader who temporarily enthroned himself Khan of the Mongols in the early 15th century, appeared in Mongolian history, leader of the Oirats, particularly the Torguud...
  • Öljei Temür Khan (full name: Bunyashiri, died 1412), the Mongol khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia, a son of Elbeg Nigülesügchi Khan and younger brother of Gün Temür Khan, one of the Borjig...

Khan World Ranking

In the United States, the name Khan is the 1,728th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Khan is ranked the 92nd most popular surname with an estimated 28,804 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Khan is the 732nd popular surname. 3 Australia ranks Khan as 427th with 8,743 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Khan as 502nd with 1,366 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Khan as 112nd with 43,443 people. 6 South Africa ranks Khan as 156th with 39,517 people. 7

Migration of the Khan family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Michael Kahn, who came to Philadelphia in 1733. Daniel Kahn settled in Pennsylvania in 1753; while Gottlob Kahn settled in Texas in 1846.


Contemporary Notables of the name Khan (post 1700) +

  • Yasmin Khan, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2004 8
  • Sherbaz Khan, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives 32nd District, 2012 8
  • M. J. Khan, American Republican politician, Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 137th District, 2012 8
  • Kay Khan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 2008 8
  • Fauzia Khan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 2000 8
  • Chad Khan, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 126th District, 2006, 2008 8
  • Zubair Khan (1963-2024), Indian politician
  • Roedad Khan (1923-2024), Pakistani politician and civil servant
  • Rehanzeb Khan (b. 2024), Pakistani politician
  • Abul Hashem Khan (1955-2024), Bangladesh Awami League politician
  • ... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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