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

Ao, 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 Ao surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ao in America

Ao is the 41501st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ao surname appeared 524 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 Ao.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ao 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 Ao

The surname "Ao" is believed to have originated from China, specifically in the Fujian province, where it dates back several centuries. It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "ao," which means "profound" or "deep," suggesting that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone with a deep or profound character or intellect.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Ao" can be found in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), where it appears in various historical documents and records. During this period, the name was predominantly concentrated in the southern regions of China, particularly in the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong provinces.

In the 17th century, records show that a scholar named Ao Qingrui (1604-1677) achieved notable recognition for his contributions to the field of Confucian studies. He was a prolific writer and his works, including commentaries on classical texts, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and in subsequent generations.

Another prominent figure with the surname "Ao" was Ao Xuan (1736-1792), a renowned poet and calligrapher who lived during the Qing Dynasty. His poetic works, known for their elegant and refined style, were highly regarded and have been preserved in various anthologies.

In the realm of martial arts, Ao Bingnan (1848-1920) was a renowned practitioner and instructor of the Shaolin Kung Fu style. He is credited with preserving and passing down the teachings of the Shaolin temple's fighting techniques, which have been influential in the development of modern Kung Fu.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the name "Ao" began to appear more frequently in historical records outside of China, as members of the Ao family emigrated to various parts of Southeast Asia and other regions. One notable example is Ao Tsu-chi (1876-1935), a prominent businessman and philanthropist who was born in Fujian but later settled in Singapore, where he made significant contributions to the local community.

While the surname "Ao" is not among the most common surnames in China, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and has been associated with scholars, artists, and influential figures across various fields. Its origins and meaning reflect the deep cultural roots and traditions of the Chinese civilization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ao

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

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 Ao 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 Ao 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 Ao was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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