2000
#4,458
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 7,327
First available Census row
Per 100,000 2.72
Uncommon Last name
Dong
A Chinese surname referring to the eastern direction or the mythological Dong mountain range.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 21,408 Americans carry the last name Dong. That puts it at #1,887 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.25 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 16,011 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dong 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 Dong with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
21K
1 in 16,011
Census rank
#1,887
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
19K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 18,669 bearers of the surname Dong in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.25 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1887th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.3%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dong
The surname Dong has its origins in China, and it is believed to have emerged during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The name is derived from the Chinese word "dong," which means "east" or "eastern." It was likely initially used as a topographic name, referring to people who lived in the eastern regions of China or near the eastern borders of the country.
One of the earliest known references to the Dong surname can be found in the "Tongzhi" or "Comprehensive Treatise," a historical work compiled during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). This work includes records of individuals with the Dong surname, suggesting that the name had already been in use for some time.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named Dong Feng (1268-1346) is recorded as a prominent scholar and official during the Yuan Dynasty. He served as a high-ranking civil servant and is known for his contributions to the development of Neo-Confucianism.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Dong surname gained further prominence. One of the most influential individuals with this name was Dong Qichang (1555-1636), a renowned artist, calligrapher, and art theorist. His works and teachings had a significant impact on the development of Chinese painting and calligraphy.
Another notable figure from this period was Dong Sizhang (1570-1625), a general and military strategist who played a crucial role in the defense of China against the invading Manchu forces. His military tactics and leadership were instrumental in several victories against the Manchus.
In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the Dong surname continued to be prominent. Dong Zhongshu (1679-1758) was a highly respected philosopher and scholar known for his contributions to the study of the Confucian classics and his influential writings on ethics and governance.
Dong Qinghu (1844-1904) was a renowned artist and calligrapher who lived during the late Qing Dynasty. His works were highly prized and are considered some of the finest examples of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy from that era.
While the Dong surname has ancient roots in China, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain closely tied to its Chinese heritage and the various dynasties that shaped the nation's cultural and intellectual landscape.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dong
Among Census respondents with the surname Dong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.3%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Dong 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 Dong surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander94.3% · 17,606
- White2.6% · 485
- Two or more races1.9% · 362
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 119
- Black or African American0.5% · 92
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Dong
Dong 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
#2,879
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 12,466
+5,139 bearers (+70.1%)
Per 100,000 4.23
Rank movement Up 1,579 places
2020
#1,887
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 18,669
+6,203 bearers (+49.8%)
Per 100,000 6.25
Rank movement Up 992 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #4,458 | 7,327 | 2.72 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #2,879 | 12,466 | 4.23 | +5,139 bearers (+70.1%) | Up 1,579 places |
| 2020 | #1,887 | 18,669 | 6.25 | +6,203 bearers (+49.8%) | Up 992 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 Dong 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 | #2,879 | #1,887 | 34.5% |
| Count | 12,466 | 18,669 | 49.8% |
| Per 100K | 4.23 | 6.25 | 47.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Dong bearers went from 12,466 to 18,669 (+49.8% change). The surname moved up 992 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,879 to #1,887.
FAQ
Dong surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Dong?
Name Census estimates that about 21,408 living Americans carry the surname Dong. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 16,011 residents.
How common is Dong?
Dong ranks #1,887 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 6.25 per 100,000 residents, which is about 6 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 18,669 people with the surname Dong. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (21,408), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 6.25 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 6.25 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 6 of them to have the surname Dong.
Has Dong become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Dong went from 12,466 recorded bearers to 18,669. That is an increase of 6,203 (+49.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #2,879 to #1,887.
What does the Census say about the background of Dong?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.3%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). 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 Dong in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.3% (17,606 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Dong appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (94.3%), White (2.6%), Two or More Races (1.9%). 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 Dong (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 Dong mean?
A Chinese surname referring to the eastern direction or the mythological Dong mountain range. 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 Dong (6.25 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 people have the surname Dong?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.