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

Cho, 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 Cho surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cho in America

Cho is the 1038th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cho surname appeared 33,490 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Cho.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cho 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 Cho

The surname "CHO" is of Korean origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient kingdoms of the Korean Peninsula. It is believed to have emerged during the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled over the region from 918 to 1392 AD.

The name "CHO" is thought to be derived from the Korean word "cho," which means "village" or "settlement." This suggests that the surname may have originated among families living in rural areas or small towns.

Historical records from the Goryeo period, including the Goryeosa (History of Goryeo), mention individuals bearing the surname "CHO." However, specific details about the earliest recorded instances are scarce due to the limited preservation of documents from that era.

One notable figure in Korean history with the surname "CHO" was Cho Wi (1329-1400), a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar and diplomat who served as a minister during the Goryeo and early Joseon Dynasties.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), the "CHO" surname continued to be prevalent, with several notable individuals emerging from this lineage. Cho Kwang-jo (1482-1519) was a prominent scholar and politician who played a significant role in the literary and political circles of the time.

Another notable figure was Cho Shik (1501-1572), a renowned military commander and strategist who helped defend Korea against Japanese invasions in the late 16th century.

In the realm of literature, Cho Hui-mun (1597-1661) was a highly respected poet and scholar who made significant contributions to the development of Korean literature during the Joseon era.

Moving forward in time, Cho Dong-ho (1859-1904) was a prominent educator and independence activist who played a crucial role in the struggle against Japanese colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Throughout history, the "CHO" surname has been associated with various place names and regions within the Korean Peninsula, reflecting the broad geographical distribution of families bearing this surname.

While the above examples provide a glimpse into the historical significance of the "CHO" surname, it is important to note that this name has been carried by countless individuals across different eras and from various walks of life, each contributing to the rich tapestry of Korean history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cho

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

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

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

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