Find out how popular the last name Ah is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ah.

Ah, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ah in America

Ah is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ah surname appeared 145 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ah to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ah

The surname "Ah" is of Chinese origin, dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) when it was first recorded as a surname in the region of Guangdong province. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Chinese word "ah" meaning "peace" or "tranquility."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Ah" can be found in the Guangdong Provincial Gazetteer, a historical record compiled during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). This document mentions several prominent individuals bearing the name, including Ah Zhengrui, a scholar and official who lived in the 14th century.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the surname "Ah" gained prominence in the city of Chaozhou, located in eastern Guangdong. Several notable figures from this period bore the name, including Ah Shaoxian (1799-1868), a renowned poet and calligrapher, and Ah Qingnian (1856-1928), a respected educator and reformer.

In the early 20th century, the surname "Ah" spread beyond Guangdong as individuals migrated to other parts of China and abroad. One notable figure from this period was Ah Ying (1888-1965), a pioneering Chinese-American actress who appeared in several Hollywood films during the 1920s and 1930s.

Another significant individual with the surname "Ah" was Ah Xian (1920-1995), a prominent writer and translator from Guangdong. He played a crucial role in introducing modern Western literature to Chinese readers and was influential in the development of contemporary Chinese literature.

In recent centuries, the surname "Ah" has also been found in other parts of Asia, including Vietnam and Malaysia, likely due to migration and cultural exchanges. One notable figure from this region was Ah Lok (1935-2018), a Malaysian businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to education and social welfare initiatives.

While the surname "Ah" may not be as common as some other Chinese surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ah

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ah.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ah was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ah has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ah, please contact us.

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