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

Go, 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 Go surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Go in America

Go is the 7607th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Go surname appeared 4,370 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Go.

We can also compare 2010 data for Go 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 Go

The surname "Go" is believed to have originated in Japan, where it is a common family name. The name dates back several centuries and is thought to be derived from the Japanese word "go," meaning "language" or "word."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Go" can be found in the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), when it was used by Japanese samurai and nobility. During this time, the name appeared in various historical records and documents, often associated with prominent families and clans.

In the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), the name "Go" gained further recognition, particularly in the Kyoto region, where it was closely tied to the imperial court and aristocracy. Several notable figures from this era bore the surname, including Go Toba (1180-1239), a former Emperor of Japan, and Go Daigo (1288-1339), another former Emperor known for his role in the Kemmu Restoration.

As Japanese society evolved, the "Go" surname spread to various parts of the country, with different branches of the family establishing themselves in different regions. One significant figure from this period was Go Sanjo (1611-1688), a renowned poet and calligrapher who served as a courtier during the early Edo period.

In the Meiji era (1868-1912), the "Go" surname continued to be prominent, with individuals such as Go Kogaku (1765-1837), a renowned scholar and educator, and Go Shunjo (1828-1909), a skilled painter and calligrapher, making significant contributions to Japanese culture and academia.

It is important to note that the surname "Go" is distinct from its use as a title or prefix in Japanese imperial and aristocratic naming conventions. In these cases, the word "Go" was often added before a personal name or regnal name to indicate a specific era or reign.

While the surname "Go" is most commonly associated with Japan, it is also found in other parts of Asia, such as China and Korea, where it may have different origins and meanings. However, the Japanese roots of the name remain the most well-documented and widely recognized.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Go

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

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

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

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