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

Chau, 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 Chau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chau in America

Chau is the 2181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chau surname appeared 16,667 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Chau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chau 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 Chau

The surname CHAU is believed to have originated in Vietnam and parts of southern China, with its roots dating back several centuries. It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "chau," which means "stream" or "river," suggesting that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived near bodies of water.

One of the earliest known references to the name CHAU can be found in ancient Vietnamese records from the 15th century, where it was sometimes spelled as "Châu" or "Châu." These documents indicate that the name was particularly prevalent in the northern and central regions of Vietnam, where many rivers and streams flow.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the CHAU surname gained prominence in parts of southern China, particularly in the provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi. Historical records from this period mention several notable individuals bearing the name, including Chau Ching-Ngai (1550-1620), a renowned scholar and philosopher from Guangdong.

In the 18th century, the CHAU name appeared in various British colonial records from Southeast Asia, reflecting the migration of Vietnamese and Chinese individuals to regions under British rule. One notable figure from this era was Chau Phra Naret (1722-1785), a Thai nobleman and military commander who played a pivotal role in the Siamese-Burmese War.

As trade and migration patterns evolved, the CHAU surname spread to other parts of the world, including Europe and the Americas. In the 19th century, historical records mention individuals such as Chau Vu (1802-1878), a Vietnamese scholar and diplomat who served as a representative to France, and Chau Chak Wing (1853-1926), a Chinese-Australian businessman and philanthropist.

Other notable individuals with the CHAU surname include Chau Siu Ki (1914-2003), a Hong Kong architect and urban planner known for his contributions to the city's skyline, and Chau Chak Wing (1957-), a prominent Australian-Chinese businessman and philanthropist who has made significant contributions to education and cultural institutions.

It's important to note that while the surname CHAU has its roots in Vietnam and southern China, it has since become a global name, carried by individuals of various ethnicities and backgrounds, reflecting the rich tapestry of human migration and cultural exchange throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chau

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

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

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

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