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

Kao, 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 Kao surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kao in America

Kao is the 5758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kao surname appeared 6,018 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Kao.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kao 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 Kao

The surname Kao originated from China, with its roots tracing back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The name is derived from the Chinese word "gao," which means "high" or "lofty," referring to a person's noble character or elevated social status.

During the Tang Dynasty, the Kao family was prominent in the region of present-day Henan Province. Historical records show that several members of the Kao clan held influential positions in the imperial court and were recognized for their scholarly achievements.

One of the earliest documented references to the Kao surname can be found in the "Xin Tang Shu" (New Book of Tang), a historical text compiled in the 11th century. This work records the exploits of Kao Liang, a celebrated general and statesman who lived during the 9th century.

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Kao family continued to gain prominence. Kao Qiu, a renowned scholar and poet, was born in 1008 AD and is remembered for his contributions to Chinese literature.

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) saw the rise of Kao Xing, a prominent military strategist and author who served under several emperors. His works on military tactics and strategy were widely studied and influential.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the Kao surname spread to other regions of China. One notable figure was Kao Gong, a prestigious scholar and calligrapher born in 1649 AD, whose works are still revered today.

Another significant figure bearing the Kao surname was Kao Xian, a revolutionary leader and statesman who played a crucial role in the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which led to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China.

Throughout its long history, the Kao surname has been associated with scholars, military leaders, and influential figures in Chinese society. While the name originated in central China, it has since spread to various regions and is now found in Chinese communities around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kao

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

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

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

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