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

Bai, 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 Bai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bai in America

Bai is the 10237th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bai surname appeared 3,148 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bai 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 Bai

The surname BAI is believed to have originated in China, with records of the name dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "bai," which means "white" or "pure," indicating that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname or a reference to a geographic location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BAI can be found in the "Tongzhi" (Comprehensive Treatises), an encyclopedia compiled during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). This work mentions several individuals with the surname BAI who were notable scholars and officials during the Tang and Song dynasties (960-1279).

In the 11th century, a renowned poet and calligrapher named BAI Juyi (772-846) gained fame for his literary works, which were widely celebrated for their simple yet profound style. He was a prominent figure during the Tang Dynasty and is considered one of the greatest poets in Chinese history.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a scholar and philosopher named BAI Xingjian (1615-1688) made significant contributions to the field of Neo-Confucianism. His works, which explored the relationship between humanity and nature, were highly influential in the development of Chinese philosophical thought.

In more recent history, BAI Qiuying (1794-1857) was a renowned painter and calligrapher who lived during the Qing Dynasty. Her paintings and calligraphic works were celebrated for their elegance and profoundly captured the essence of traditional Chinese art.

Another notable figure with the surname BAI was BAI Chongxi (1909-2003), a prominent Chinese general and military leader who played a crucial role in the Chinese Civil War and the establishment of the People's Republic of China. He was known for his strategic military prowess and his unwavering loyalty to the Communist cause.

While the surname BAI is primarily associated with China, it is also found in other parts of Asia, including Vietnam and Korea, where it may have been adopted or adapted from the Chinese pronunciation and meaning.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bai

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

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

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

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