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

Guo, 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 Guo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Guo in America

Guo is the 2975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Guo surname appeared 12,048 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Guo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Guo 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 Guo

The surname "Guo" is of Chinese origin, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. This name first emerged during the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC - 256 BC) and was commonly found in various regions of China, particularly in the northern and central provinces.

The word "Guo" itself has its origins in the Chinese language, where it originally meant "kingdom" or "state." It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals who held significant positions or roles within the governing structures of these ancient kingdoms or states.

Historical records indicate that the name "Guo" can be found in various ancient Chinese manuscripts and texts, such as the "Shiji" (Records of the Grand Historian), written by the renowned historian Sima Qian during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). This work documented the lives and achievements of notable individuals, including those bearing the surname "Guo."

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name "Guo" dates back to the 5th century BC, when Guo Kai, a prominent military strategist and adviser to the State of Wu, played a crucial role in the kingdom's victories during the Spring and Autumn Period (771 BC - 476 BC).

Another notable figure was Guo Xian (647 - 728 AD), a revered Buddhist monk and scholar during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD). He is renowned for his contributions to the translation and dissemination of Buddhist teachings throughout China.

In the realm of literature, Guo Moruo (1892 - 1978) stands out as a prominent figure. A celebrated poet, historian, and scholar, he played a significant role in the development of modern Chinese literature and was deeply involved in the May Fourth Movement, a pivotal cultural and intellectual renaissance in China.

The name "Guo" has also been associated with various place names throughout China's history. For instance, the ancient city of Guozhou, located in present-day Anhui Province, was once an important trading hub and cultural center during the Tang Dynasty.

It is worth noting that the surname "Guo" has been subject to various spellings and variations over the centuries, such as "Kuo" and "Kwoh," reflecting the evolution of the Chinese language and its written form.

Among the notable figures who bore the surname "Guo" are Guo Xiang (252 - 312 AD), a renowned Taoist philosopher and commentator on the Zhuangzi text during the Jin Dynasty, and Guo Pu (276 - 324 AD), a prominent writer and scholar who authored commentaries on ancient Chinese classics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Guo

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

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

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

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