Krishnan
An Indian surname and given-name-based family name built from the personal name Krishna, often meaning “belonging to Krishna” or “descendant/devotee of Krishna.”
The #8,631 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 81,036 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Krishnan is a South Asian surname formed from the personal name Krishna, the name of the Hindu deity and a very common given name. In many Indian naming traditions, especially in the south, it functions as a family name derived from an ancestor’s or father’s given name, so the literal sense is roughly “Krishna’s” or “descended from/associated with Krishna.” The final -n spelling reflects a common Dravidian-style masculine or honorific form of the name in usage.
History
The surname is especially common among families from South India, where personal-name-based surnames are widely used. In diaspora communities, Krishnan is often carried as a fixed hereditary surname even when earlier generations used it as a patronymic or name element rather than a permanent family name. Because it comes from a very widespread religious and personal name, it can arise independently in multiple lineages.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Krishna is one of the most common names in South Asia, surnames like Krishnan can have multiple unrelated family lines behind them.