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

Hu, 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 Hu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hu in America

Hu is the 1797th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hu surname appeared 19,999 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Hu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hu 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 Hu

The surname "Hu" originated in China, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. It is a monosyllabic Chinese surname that has been recorded in historical documents for centuries.

One of the earliest known references to the name "Hu" can be found in the Shiji, a monumental historical record compiled by Sima Qian in the 1st century BC. This seminal work mentions several individuals bearing the surname, indicating its widespread use during the Han Dynasty.

The name "Hu" is believed to have derived from various sources, including ancient place names or geographical locations associated with the surname's bearers. Some scholars suggest it may have originated from the word "hu," which in certain Chinese dialects meant "lake" or "marsh," implying that the name's earliest bearers may have resided near such bodies of water.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the surname "Hu" gained further prominence, with several notable figures bearing the name. One such individual was Hu Guanxiu (659-713 AD), a renowned poet and calligrapher who served as a high-ranking official during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong.

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Hu family produced several influential scholars and officials. Hu Anguo (1074-1138 AD), a renowned poet and statesman, held pivotal positions in the imperial court and was known for his literary prowess.

The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD) witnessed the rise of Hu Weiyong (1283-1354 AD), a highly respected military strategist and commander. His victories in numerous campaigns against rebel forces earned him a prominent place in Chinese military history.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Hu surname continued to be associated with scholarly and literary achievements. Hu Yinglin (1551-1602 AD), a renowned philosopher and writer, made significant contributions to the study of Chinese classics and literary theory.

In more recent centuries, the Hu surname has been carried by notable figures across various fields. Hu Shih (1891-1962 AD), a philosopher and scholar, played a pivotal role in the May Fourth Movement and advocated for cultural reforms in China.

Throughout its long history, the surname "Hu" has been deeply rooted in Chinese culture and has produced numerous notable individuals who have left their mark on various aspects of society, from literature and scholarship to military strategy and statesmanship.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hu

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

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

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

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