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

Ki, 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 Ki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ki in America

Ki is the 29947th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ki surname appeared 784 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 Ki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ki 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 Ki

The surname Ki is believed to have originated from the Korean peninsula, with roots dating back to the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392 CE). It is derived from the Korean word "gi," which translates to "flag" or "banner." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who held positions related to flags or military banners during this period.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Ki can be found in the "Goryeosa," a historical record of the Goryeo dynasty. This text, compiled in the 15th century, contains references to individuals bearing the Ki surname, indicating its existence and usage during the Goryeo era.

During the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897 CE), the Ki surname gained prominence, particularly among the scholarly class and the aristocracy. Notable figures from this time period include Ki Dae-seung (1527-1605), a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar and philosopher, and Ki Beol-ryeong (1537-1598), a prominent military leader and strategist.

The surname also made its way to Japan, where it is written as 紀 or 木, and is believed to have been introduced during the Goryeo-Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE) through cultural and political exchanges between the two nations.

In more recent times, individuals with the surname Ki have made significant contributions across various fields. One notable example is Ki Sung-yueng (born 1989), a South Korean professional footballer who has represented his country in international competitions.

Another prominent figure is Ki Yong-ik (1835-1905), a leader of the Donghak Peasant Revolution in the late 19th century, which played a pivotal role in shaping modern Korean history.

It's worth mentioning that the surname Ki has also been found in other regions, such as China and Vietnam, where it may have different linguistic origins and meanings. However, its roots can be traced back to the Korean peninsula, where it has a rich historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ki

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

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

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

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