Surname Mikan - Meaning and Origin
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Mikan: What does the surname Mikan mean?
The last name Mikan is a variation of the name Mikin and is of Czechoslovakian origin. It was derived from the Czech word "míkat", meaning "to throw". This is indicative of the traditional livelihoods of inhabitants of the Czech Republic, which included farming, hunting, and fishing, occupations that would have required the throwing of projectiles.
In the Czech language, Mikan is also associated with the word "mikati", meaning "to expectorate". Assumptions can be made about ancestors of the Mikan family that they once resided in a particular health condition which resulted in consistent coughing and spitting.
The last name Mikan may have come into use in the past to distinguish members of the same extended family. For instance, a family surname may have been Mikan for the extended family members who were nets makers, and Mikin for the extended family members who were fisherman (using nets).
The Mikan surname may have evolved as a stand-alone entity over time and is believed to now be more commonly found in the United States than in its region of origin. Individuals with the surname Mikan are often seen as persistent, insightful and motivational leaders.
Order DNA origin analysisMikan: Where does the name Mikan come from?
The last name Mikan is commonly found in Croatia and Serbia. It is believed to have originated from Mikaljaš, a surname from Montenegro. The surname was originally found in eastern Europe and parts of the former Yugoslavia, especially in areas such as Austria-Hungary and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is also commonly found in Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and even parts of Italy. It can be seen in Croatia, Serbia, and in some European countries such as Germany and Slovakia.
Recently, it has been seen more in the Americas due to immigration, and is also quite common in Canada and the United States. It can be found in all 50 states and many cities. It can be seen as a surname amongst different ethnicities and cultures.
Those with the last name Mikan can trace their roots back to Eastern Europe. Today, it is seen as a unifying surname amongst those who descend from the same heritage. While it is still seen mostly Eastern Europe, it has expanded beyond those borders to become an international surname with a surprisingly large population.
Variations of the surname Mikan
Mikan is a surname of Slavic origin, derived from the ancient Russian name Mike, which later combined with the suffix -an to form Mikan. Variations of the spelling include Mikon, Meekan, Mikanin, and Mikania. Surnames of similar origins include Mikel, Mikelov, Mikheev, Mailyan, and Mikelev.
Mikan is a relatively uncommon surname, with fewer than 300 people in the United States having it as their last name. The surname is found mainly in Russia and Poland, where it is a diminutive form of the name Mike. It is found more often in rural areas where the original Slavic settlers lived.
The name Mikan is also found in Romania, although only a small number of people bear it. It may also be related to the name Meek, a last name used in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Many people of Mikan origin have changed their family name at some point. Those that did often changed to Macan or Macken, Macon, or McCan. There are also some instances of people changing their name to the more Anglicized version of McKean, McKeon, or McKinnon.
In the United States, the name Mike is more popular than Mikan, accounting for less than 0.004% of the nation’s population. However, the Mikan spelling is found in parts of eastern Europe, including Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania.
Famous people with the name Mikan
- George Mikan: a professional American basketball player who was a five-time National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1959.
- Margaret Mikan: a three-time Olympic gold-medalist in synchronized swimming and captain of the U.S Olympic Synchronized Swimming team in 1984.
- Christopher Mikan: an American musician and record producer who played as the lead guitarist and co-songwriter for the band Cheap Trick.
- Mike Mikan: a professional American baseball player who spent four seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
- Pat Mikan: an American stand-up comedian and actor known for his appearances on stand-up comedy stages as well as appearing on television shows such as Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
- Mark Mikan: a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New Jersey Devils, “Minnesota North Stars”, and “Hartford Whalers”.
- Josef Mikan: an American Major League Baseball pitcher and played for the Washington Senators in 1923.
- Tom Mikan: a former professional basketball player who was both an NBA All-Star (in 1953) and a member of the United States men's Olympic basketball team at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
- Eric Mikan: an American professional skateboarder who was the first street skater to win a gold medal in competition at the X Games in 2003.
- Christa Mikan: an American professional motocross racer who won the 2006 World Enduro Championship.