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

Foong, 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 Foong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Foong in America

Foong is the 77012th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Foong surname appeared 249 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Foong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Foong 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 Foong

The surname "FOONG" is believed to have originated from the Cantonese Chinese dialect, tracing its roots back to the southern regions of China, particularly the Guangdong province. This name is thought to have emerged during the Ming Dynasty, which spanned from the 14th to the 17th century.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname "FOONG" can be found in the Qing Dynasty's household registration records, known as the "bao jia" system. These records were meticulously maintained to keep track of family lineages and ancestral ties within local communities.

The name "FOONG" is believed to be derived from the Chinese characters "鳳" or "鳯," which translate to "phoenix" or "fenghuang" – a mythical bird considered a symbol of auspiciousness, virtue, and grace in Chinese culture. It is possible that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals or families revered for their noble qualities or esteemed societal standing.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the surname "FOONG" was Foong Sai-yuk, a legendary martial artist and folk hero from Guangdong. His exploits and adventures were chronicled in the classic Chinese novel, "The Patriot Yuen Fei-whah," which contributed to the widespread recognition of the name.

Another influential figure was Foong Daan, a revered scholar and calligrapher who lived during the late Ming Dynasty. His exceptional mastery of the art of calligraphy earned him widespread acclaim, and his works were frequently commissioned by the imperial court and renowned literati.

During the 19th century, the name "FOONG" gained further prominence with the rise of Foong Tak-cheung, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who established various charitable organizations and educational institutions in Guangdong. His legacy and contributions to the local community were extensively documented in historical records.

In the early 20th century, Foong Ying-ching, a prominent medical practitioner and advocate for traditional Chinese medicine, made significant strides in promoting and preserving ancient medical knowledge. His pioneering work in integrating traditional and modern medical practices garnered national recognition.

Lastly, Foong Yee-kee, a renowned artist and painter from the late 20th century, gained international acclaim for his captivating landscape paintings, which masterfully captured the essence of China's natural beauty. His works have been exhibited in prestigious galleries across the globe and are highly sought after by art collectors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Foong

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

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

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

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