2000
#1,277
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 25,305
First available Census row
Per 100,000 9.38
Uncommon Last name
Cho
A Korean surname derived from the Chinese surname Cao, meaning "grass" or "straw."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 40,914 Americans carry the last name Cho. That puts it at #964 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 11.94 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 8,377 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cho surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Cho with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
41K
1 in 8,377
Census rank
#964
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
11.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
36K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 35,679 bearers of the surname Cho in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 11.94 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 964th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cho, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.3%) and White (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cho
Among Census respondents with the surname Cho, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.3%) and White (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Cho bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Cho surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander93.8% · 33,481
- Two or more races2.3% · 835
- White2.2% · 798
- Hispanic or Latino1.0% · 373
- Black or African American0.5% · 186
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 6
Timeline
Historical Census data for Cho
Cho appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#1,038
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 33,490
+8,185 bearers (+32.3%)
Per 100,000 11.35
Rank movement Up 239 places
2020
#964
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 35,679
+2,189 bearers (+6.5%)
Per 100,000 11.94
Rank movement Up 74 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #1,277 | 25,305 | 9.38 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #1,038 | 33,490 | 11.35 | +8,185 bearers (+32.3%) | Up 239 places |
| 2020 | #964 | 35,679 | 11.94 | +2,189 bearers (+6.5%) | Up 74 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Cho surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,038 | #964 | 7.1% |
| Count | 33,490 | 35,679 | 6.5% |
| Per 100K | 11.35 | 11.94 | 5.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Cho bearers went from 33,490 to 35,679 (+6.5% change). The surname moved up 74 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,038 to #964.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cho
FAQ
Cho surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Cho?
Name Census estimates that about 40,914 living Americans carry the surname Cho. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 8,377 residents.
How common is Cho?
Cho ranks #964 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 11.94 per 100,000 residents, which is about 12 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 35,679 people with the surname Cho. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (40,914), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 11.94 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 11.94 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 12 of them to have the surname Cho.
Has Cho become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Cho went from 33,490 recorded bearers to 35,679. That is an increase of 2,189 (+6.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #1,038 to #964.
What does the Census say about the background of Cho?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cho, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.3%) and White (2.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Cho in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.8% (33,481 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Cho appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (93.8%), Two or More Races (2.3%), White (2.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Cho (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Cho mean?
A Korean surname derived from the Chinese surname Cao, meaning "grass" or "straw." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Cho (11.94 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Cho?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.