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

Ke, 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 Ke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ke in America

Ke is the 15494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ke surname appeared 1,890 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ke 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 Ke

The surname "Ke" is believed to have originated in China, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese character "ke," which can be translated to mean "guest" or "visitor." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who traveled frequently or who were considered outsiders in a particular region.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname "Ke" can be found in historical records from the Tang Dynasty, which ruled China from 618 to 907 AD. During this period, the name was particularly prevalent in the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where many families bearing this surname resided.

In the 11th century, a scholar named Ke Zongzhou (1010-1070) gained recognition for his contributions to the study of Chinese classics and literature. He is considered one of the most notable individuals with the surname "Ke" during the Song Dynasty.

Another significant figure was Ke Jiusi (1290-1343), a renowned military strategist and advisor during the Yuan Dynasty. He played a crucial role in several military campaigns and was highly respected for his tactical expertise.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the "Ke" surname spread to other regions of China. One notable individual from this period was Ke Shengzhong (1532-1607), a prominent politician and scholar who served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

In the 18th century, Ke Guangyi (1768-1854) emerged as a prominent scholar and calligrapher, renowned for his exceptional calligraphic skills and contributions to the study of Chinese literature.

Moving into more recent history, Ke Yunlu (1903-1997) was a celebrated artist and art educator who played a significant role in the development of modern Chinese art education. His works are highly regarded and can be found in numerous art museums and galleries across China.

While the surname "Ke" has its roots in ancient China, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals of Chinese descent who have migrated to various countries over the centuries. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above provide insight into the rich heritage and significance of this surname within the context of Chinese culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ke

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

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

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

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