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

Hsiang, 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 Hsiang surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hsiang in America

Hsiang is the 63873rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hsiang surname appeared 312 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 Hsiang.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hsiang 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 Hsiang

The surname HSIANG is of Chinese origin, with roots tracing back to the ancient dynasties of China. It is a transliteration of the Chinese characters 向, which can be interpreted as "direction" or "orientation." The name likely originated during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), when surnames were widely adopted across the region.

HSIANG is believed to have originated from the state of Chu, located in present-day Hubei province. During the Warring States period (475 BC - 221 BC), the Chu kingdom was a prominent power, and many noble families and influential figures emerged from this region. It is possible that the surname HSIANG was initially bestowed upon individuals who held a distinguished position or occupation related to navigation, direction, or orientation.

Historical records indicate that the surname HSIANG has appeared in various Chinese manuscripts and literature throughout the centuries. One notable example is the mention of a scholar named HSIANG Yi in the "Shiji" (Records of the Grand Historian), a monumental historical work compiled by Sima Qian during the Han Dynasty.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname HSIANG can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD). During this golden age of Chinese civilization, a prominent figure named HSIANG Xuan (605 - 685 AD) served as a renowned calligrapher and scholar. His works and contributions to the arts were widely celebrated and influential.

Another notable individual bearing the surname HSIANG was HSIANG Leyi (1763 - 1824), a celebrated painter and calligrapher from the Qing Dynasty. His artistic achievements and mastery of the brush earned him great recognition and respect among his contemporaries.

In the realm of literature, HSIANG Tzu (1611 - 1693) was a prominent Ming Dynasty scholar and writer. His literary works, particularly in the field of classical Chinese poetry, have left a lasting impact on Chinese culture and academia.

During the 20th century, HSIANG Ching-kuei (1914 - 2009) was a distinguished Taiwanese diplomat and politician. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and played a pivotal role in shaping Taiwan's international relations during a crucial period in its history.

Throughout the centuries, the surname HSIANG has been associated with various place names and locations within China. For instance, Hsiang-yang, a city in Hubei province, and Hsiang-tan, a city in Hunan province, both incorporate the character 向 in their names, suggesting a possible connection to the surname's origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hsiang

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

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

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

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