2000
#6,669
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,670
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.73
Uncommon Last name
Du
A French toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a wood or forest.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 12,994 Americans carry the last name Du. That puts it at #3,097 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.79 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 26,378 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Du 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 Du with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
13K
1 in 26,378
Census rank
#3,097
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
11K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 11,331 bearers of the surname Du in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.79 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3097th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Du, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.2%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Du
The surname "DU" originated in France and is derived from the Old French word "du," meaning "from" or "of." This surname first emerged in the 11th century as a distinguishing name for individuals who came from a particular place or region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "DU" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England during the reign of William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appeared as "du Bois," referring to someone who hailed from a wooded area or a specific place called Bois.
In the 12th century, the surname "DU" began appearing in various forms, such as "du Lac," "du Mont," and "du Pont," indicating a person's connection to a lake, mountain, or bridge, respectively. These place-based surnames were common during this period and helped distinguish individuals from different locations.
A notable figure bearing the surname "DU" was Guillaume du Bellay (1491-1543), a French diplomat and writer who served as a chamberlain to Francis I, the King of France. He is known for his memoirs, which provide valuable insights into the political and social landscape of 16th-century France.
Another prominent individual with the surname "DU" was Jacques du Chastel (c. 1515-1592), a French lawyer and diplomat who played a crucial role in the French Wars of Religion. He is remembered for his efforts to promote religious tolerance and reconciliation during a turbulent period in French history.
In the 17th century, the "DU" surname gained prominence with the works of Samuel du Bois (1616-1683), a French theologian and academic who made significant contributions to the field of theology and biblical studies. His writings were widely read and influential during his time.
Moving into the 18th century, we encounter Louis du Bouchet (1679-1734), a French philosopher and writer who was known for his satirical works critiquing the societal norms and practices of his era. His works offered a unique perspective on the intellectual and cultural landscape of 18th-century France.
Finally, in the 19th century, we find Marie-Sophie du Moncel (1846-1920), a French feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and advocated for better education and employment opportunities for women. She was a influential figure in the early stages of the women's rights movement in France.
Throughout its history, the surname "DU" has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including diplomats, writers, theologians, philosophers, and activists. While its origins can be traced back to Old French and place-based names, it has remained a prominent surname across generations, carrying with it a rich tapestry of stories and contributions to society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Du
Among Census respondents with the surname Du, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.2%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Du 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 Du surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander95.2% · 10,787
- White2.6% · 299
- Two or more races0.9% · 97
- Black or African American0.7% · 74
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 73
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Du
Du 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
#4,690
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 7,566
+2,896 bearers (+62.0%)
Per 100,000 2.56
Rank movement Up 1,979 places
2020
#3,097
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 11,331
+3,765 bearers (+49.8%)
Per 100,000 3.79
Rank movement Up 1,593 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #6,669 | 4,670 | 1.73 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #4,690 | 7,566 | 2.56 | +2,896 bearers (+62.0%) | Up 1,979 places |
| 2020 | #3,097 | 11,331 | 3.79 | +3,765 bearers (+49.8%) | Up 1,593 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 Du 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 | #4,690 | #3,097 | 34.0% |
| Count | 7,566 | 11,331 | 49.8% |
| Per 100K | 2.56 | 3.79 | 48.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Du bearers went from 7,566 to 11,331 (+49.8% change). The surname moved up 1,593 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,690 to #3,097.
FAQ
Du surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Du?
Name Census estimates that about 12,994 living Americans carry the surname Du. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 26,378 residents.
How common is Du?
Du ranks #3,097 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 3.79 per 100,000 residents, which is about 4 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 11,331 people with the surname Du. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (12,994), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 3.79 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 3.79 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 4 of them to have the surname Du.
Has Du become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Du went from 7,566 recorded bearers to 11,331. That is an increase of 3,765 (+49.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #4,690 to #3,097.
What does the Census say about the background of Du?
Among Census respondents with the surname Du, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.2%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). 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 Du in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.2% (10,787 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Du appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (95.2%), White (2.6%), Two or More Races (0.9%). 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 Du (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 Du mean?
A French toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a wood or forest. 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 Du (3.79 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 are called Du?
Find out how many people are called Du on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.