Heung last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Heung

A Chinese surname potentially meaning "fragrant" or "incense".

Heung, 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 Heung surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heung in America

Heung is the 129047th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heung surname appeared 132 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 Heung.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heung 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 129047 135837 -5.13%
Count 132 114 14.63%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.04 0.00%

The history of the last name Heung

The surname HEUNG has its origins in the Cantonese region of southern China, where it first emerged during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to be derived from the Cantonese word "heung", meaning "prosperous" or "flourishing". This name may have initially been bestowed upon families who were particularly successful or thriving in their trades or professions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HEUNG surname can be found in the genealogical records of the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where a family by the name of HEUNG is mentioned as residing in the city of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton). These records suggest that the HEUNG family had established themselves as a prominent lineage in the region by the 11th century.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), a scholar and government official named HEUNG Siu-Tung (born 1498) gained recognition for his contributions to the imperial examinations system. His writings and commentaries on Confucian classics were highly regarded, and he held several prestigious positions within the imperial court.

In the 17th century, a merchant named HEUNG Kin-Wah (1623-1689) became renowned for his success in the silk trade, establishing a prosperous business that spanned across multiple provinces. His wealth and influence allowed him to become a patron of the arts, supporting numerous poets and calligraphers of the time.

Another notable figure bearing the HEUNG surname was HEUNG Yee-Kuk (1768-1840), a revered martial arts master and teacher who is credited with preserving and passing down the traditions of the Southern Shaolin Kung Fu style. His teachings and techniques were widely influential among martial artists of the 19th century.

In more recent history, HEUNG Shing (1910-1997) was a celebrated artist and calligrapher whose works were highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts. His unique style, which blended traditional Chinese techniques with modern sensibilities, earned him widespread acclaim both within China and internationally.

Throughout its history, the HEUNG surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of southern China, particularly in the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. While the name may have originated from a specific meaning or occupation, it has since become a respected and well-established surname within Chinese culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heung

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

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 Heung was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 96.97% 128
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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 Heung has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 96.97% 95.61% 1.41%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% 4.39% (S)%
Hispanic 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

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

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

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"Heung last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 26, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/heung-surname-popularity/.

"Heung last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/heung-surname-popularity/. Accessed 26 December, 2024

Heung last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/heung-surname-popularity/.

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