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

Geng, 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 Geng surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Geng in America

Geng is the 22450th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Geng surname appeared 1,146 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 Geng.

We can also compare 2010 data for Geng 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 Geng

The surname GENG is believed to have originated in China, with roots dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese word "geng," which can mean "wide" or "extensive." The name was initially associated with people from the Geng or Gong regions in China, particularly in the provinces of Jiangsu and Henan.

In ancient Chinese records, the earliest known mention of the surname GENG can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty, when it appeared in official genealogical records and local chronicles. During this period, the GENG family was recognized as a prominent lineage in various regions of China.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname GENG was Geng Shouchang (fl. 710-720 AD), a renowned scholar and poet during the Tang Dynasty. Another notable figure was Geng Xuezhuang (fl. 1150-1230 AD), a Confucian scholar and philosopher during the Song Dynasty.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the surname GENG gained further prominence with the rise of Geng Jingzhong (1554-1634), a renowned military strategist and general who played a crucial role in suppressing various rebellions and defending the empire's borders.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the GENG family produced several influential figures, including Geng Zhongming (1798-1876), a scholar and official who served as a provincial governor and advocated for educational reforms.

Another prominent individual was Geng Jizhi (1840-1896), a pioneering diplomat and one of the first Chinese ambassadors to Western countries, serving in diplomatic roles in the United Kingdom, Russia, and Germany.

Throughout history, the surname GENG has been associated with various place names and localities in China. For instance, the Geng County (now part of Henan Province) and the Geng District in Jiangsu Province were named after the GENG lineage.

While the surname GENG is primarily found in China, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance can be traced back to the ancient Chinese dynasties and the regions where the GENG family flourished.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Geng

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

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

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

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