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

Heo, 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 Heo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heo in America

Heo is the 20201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heo surname appeared 1,319 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 Heo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heo 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 Heo

The surname "HEO" has its origins in ancient Korea, dating back to the 7th century AD. It is believed to be derived from the Old Korean word "heo," which means "crane" or "heron." This name was likely given to families who lived in areas where these graceful birds were abundant or to those who revered the crane as a symbol of longevity and good fortune.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "HEO" can be found in historical documents from the Silla Kingdom, which ruled over the Korean Peninsula from the 7th to the 9th century AD. During this period, the name appears in various royal genealogies and court records, indicating that it was borne by members of the aristocracy and nobility.

One of the most notable figures in Korean history who bore the surname "HEO" was Heo Nanseolheon (792-868 AD), a renowned scholar and poet during the Unified Silla period. His works, including the acclaimed "Samgukyusa" (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), have been preserved and studied for centuries, providing valuable insights into the culture and history of ancient Korea.

In the 15th century, the name "HEO" gained further prominence with the birth of Heo Gyun (1569-1618), a celebrated artist and calligrapher during the Joseon Dynasty. His masterful ink paintings and calligraphic works are considered national treasures in South Korea and have inspired generations of artists.

Another notable figure was Heo Pil (1554-1593), a revered Confucian scholar and adviser to King Seonjo during the Joseon Dynasty. His unwavering loyalty and sage counsel during the Japanese invasions of Korea in the late 16th century earned him a place in the annals of Korean history.

During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 AD), the name "HEO" was also associated with several prominent Buddhist monks and temple complexes. One such example is the Heo Gwang Temple, a historic monastery located in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, which was founded by a monk named Heo Gwang in the 11th century.

Throughout its long history, the surname "HEO" has been linked to various place names and geographic regions across the Korean Peninsula. These include Heo-ri (Heo Village) in North Gyeongsang Province, Heo-san (Heo Mountain) in South Jeolla Province, and the Heo-cheon River in Gangwon Province, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heo

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

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

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

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