Kattan

Kattan is a surname of Middle Eastern origin that is commonly found among Arabic-speaking populations and their descendants. The name is frequently transliterated into English as Kattan, but variants such as Qattan or Katten are also encountered, reflecting differences in dialect and transliteration practices. In scholarly and genealogical contexts, Kattan is treated as a patronymic or tribal-name-derived surname, rather than an occupation or given name. The distribution of the name is highest in the Middle East, with diaspora communities in Europe, North America, and beyond.

Because surnames do not imply a single notable person, there is no one universally recognized Kattan figure associated with the name. Individuals bearing the surname appear across many sectors, including business, academia, arts, sports, and public life, reflecting the name’s broad geographic and professional reach. The name may also appear in historical records under variant spellings, which can complicate genealogical research.