2000
#3,152
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 10,483
First available Census row
Per 100,000 3.89
Uncommon Last name
Ko
A Korean surname derived from the Chinese surname Gao, meaning "high" or "tall."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 16,412 Americans carry the last name Ko. That puts it at #2,463 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.79 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 20,884 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ko surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Ko with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
16K
1 in 20,884
Census rank
#2,463
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
14K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 14,312 bearers of the surname Ko in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.79 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2463rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ko, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.2%. The next largest groups are White (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ko
The surname "Ko" is believed to have originated in China, with its roots dating back to ancient times. The name is derived from the Chinese word "ke," which means "visitor" or "guest." It is thought that the surname was initially given to those who traveled frequently or were visitors to a particular region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Ko" can be found in the "Book of Surnames," a Chinese text compiled during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). This ancient work provides a comprehensive list of Chinese surnames and their origins, making it an invaluable resource for tracing the history of family names.
In the 8th century AD, a notable figure named Ko Hung, also known as Ko Qian-zhi, made significant contributions to the field of Taoism and alchemy. He is recognized as one of the most influential Taoist philosophers and writers of his time, with his works influencing Chinese culture and thought for centuries to come.
During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), a scholar and poet named Ko Zheng-jian gained recognition for his literary talents. His poems and writings were widely appreciated and have been preserved in various anthologies, providing insights into the cultural and intellectual life of that era.
In the 14th century, Ko Hung-ming, a renowned military strategist and general, played a crucial role in defending the Ming Dynasty against Mongol invasions. His tactical prowess and leadership skills earned him a place in the annals of Chinese military history.
Another prominent figure with the surname "Ko" was Ko Hsuan-hua, a renowned painter and calligrapher who lived during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). His artworks, which combined traditional Chinese techniques with innovative styles, have been celebrated for their beauty and influence on subsequent generations of artists.
While the surname "Ko" has its roots in ancient China, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or descended from Chinese ancestors. The name continues to hold cultural significance, serving as a link to the rich heritage and traditions of its Chinese origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ko
Among Census respondents with the surname Ko, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.2%. The next largest groups are White (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Ko bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ko surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander92.2% · 13,196
- White3.3% · 474
- Two or more races2.7% · 381
- Hispanic or Latino1.4% · 196
- Black or African American0.4% · 61
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ko
Ko appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#2,708
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 13,312
+2,829 bearers (+27.0%)
Per 100,000 4.51
Rank movement Up 444 places
2020
#2,463
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 14,312
+1,000 bearers (+7.5%)
Per 100,000 4.79
Rank movement Up 245 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #3,152 | 10,483 | 3.89 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #2,708 | 13,312 | 4.51 | +2,829 bearers (+27.0%) | Up 444 places |
| 2020 | #2,463 | 14,312 | 4.79 | +1,000 bearers (+7.5%) | Up 245 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Ko surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,708 | #2,463 | 9.0% |
| Count | 13,312 | 14,312 | 7.5% |
| Per 100K | 4.51 | 4.79 | 6.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ko bearers went from 13,312 to 14,312 (+7.5% change). The surname moved up 245 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,708 to #2,463.
FAQ
Ko surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ko?
Name Census estimates that about 16,412 living Americans carry the surname Ko. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 20,884 residents.
How common is Ko?
Ko ranks #2,463 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 4.79 per 100,000 residents, which is about 5 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 14,312 people with the surname Ko. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (16,412), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 4.79 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 4.79 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 5 of them to have the surname Ko.
Has Ko become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ko went from 13,312 recorded bearers to 14,312. That is an increase of 1,000 (+7.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #2,708 to #2,463.
What does the Census say about the background of Ko?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ko, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.2%. The next largest groups are White (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ko in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.2% (13,196 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ko appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (92.2%), White (3.3%), Two or More Races (2.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Ko (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Ko mean?
A Korean surname derived from the Chinese surname Gao, meaning "high" or "tall." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Ko (4.79 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Ko?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.