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

Hong, 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 Hong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hong in America

Hong is the 1106th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hong surname appeared 31,670 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Hong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hong 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 Hong

The surname HONG originated in China, with records of its use dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "hong," which means "vast" or "great." The name was likely first adopted by families who lived in regions with vast landscapes or fertile lands.

In ancient China, surnames were often associated with specific regions or geographical features. The HONG surname is believed to have originated in the provinces of Henan, Hubei, and Hunan, where the name was particularly prevalent among noble families and scholars.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HONG surname can be found in the historical text "Shiji" (Records of the Grand Historian), written by Sima Qian during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). The text mentions several individuals with the surname HONG, including Hong Xiu, a renowned scholar and poet who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD - 220 AD).

Another notable figure in Chinese history with the HONG surname was Hong Xiuquan (1814 - 1864), a Hakka Christian who led the Taiping Rebellion against the Qing Dynasty in the mid-19th century. This rebellion, which lasted from 1850 to 1864, was one of the bloodiest civil wars in human history and had a significant impact on Chinese society and politics.

In the realm of literature, the HONG surname is associated with Hong Sheng (1645 - 1704), a renowned poet and calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty. His works, known for their elegance and simplicity, are celebrated as some of the finest examples of classical Chinese poetry.

The HONG surname has also been prominent in the field of Chinese medicine. Hong Zicheng (1618 - 1662) was a renowned physician and author of the influential medical text "Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng" (Guiding Principles for Diagnosing and Treating Diseases), which became a standard reference work in traditional Chinese medicine.

Another notable figure with the HONG surname was Hong Rengan (1822 - 1864), a scholar and reformist who played a significant role in the Self-Strengthening Movement of the late Qing Dynasty. He advocated for the adoption of Western technology and ideas to modernize China and strengthen its position against foreign powers.

While the HONG surname has its roots in ancient China, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in Chinese culture and tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hong

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!