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

Kou, 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 Kou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kou in America

Kou is the 27534th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kou surname appeared 875 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 Kou.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kou 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 Kou

The surname "KOU" is believed to have originated in China, likely during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "kou," which means "mouth" or "opening," possibly referring to a person's occupation or a geographic feature near where the family originated.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "KOU" can be found in the "Xin Tang Shu" (New Book of Tang), a historical record of the Tang Dynasty compiled in the 11th century. This text mentions several individuals with the surname "KOU," suggesting that the name was already well-established by that time.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the "KOU" surname was also documented in various local gazettes and family genealogies. These records often provide valuable insights into the origins and migrations of families, as well as their social status and occupations.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Kou Qianzhi (1189-1265) was a prominent Neo-Confucian philosopher and writer. His works, such as the "Kou Wen Gong Ji" (Collected Works of Kou Qianzhi), shed light on the intellectual and cultural climate of his time.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), a scholar and official named Kou Zhun (1456-1508) gained recognition for his literary achievements and contributions to the imperial examination system. His commentaries on classical texts and his poetry have been preserved in various anthologies.

Another notable figure with the "KOU" surname was Kou Zhenwei (1799-1861), a renowned painter and calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). His works, which often depicted landscapes and botanical subjects, are highly regarded for their technical mastery and artistic expression.

While the "KOU" surname has a long history in China, it is also found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the exact origins and historical significance of the name outside of China may vary and require further research.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kou

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

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

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

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