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

Ku, 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 Ku surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ku in America

Ku is the 6877th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ku surname appeared 4,888 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 Ku.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ku 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 Ku

The surname "Ku" is believed to have originated in China, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "ku," which means "bitter" or "suffering." This name may have been given to individuals who had endured hardships or challenges in their lives.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Ku" can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it appeared in various historical records and documents. During this period, the name was often associated with prominent scholars and officials who held influential positions within the imperial court.

One notable figure bearing the surname "Ku" was Ku Yen-wu (1613-1682), a renowned Chinese philosopher and essayist during the Ming Dynasty. He was widely renowned for his works on Neo-Confucianism and his critique of the traditional examination system.

Another prominent individual with the surname "Ku" was Ku Hung-ming (1857-1928), a Chinese scholar, writer, and diplomat. He played a significant role in introducing Western ideas and philosophies to China during the late Qing Dynasty and the early years of the Republic of China.

Moving forward in history, the surname "Ku" also appeared in various ancient manuscripts and records from different regions of China. For instance, the "Ku" name was documented in the Guangdong Province during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it was associated with several influential families and clans.

In the field of literature, Ku Ling (1904-1990), a Chinese author and playwright, made significant contributions to modern Chinese literature. His works often explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the working class.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Ku Chieh-kang (1890-1935), a Chinese politician and military leader who played a crucial role in the Northern Expedition, a military campaign aimed at unifying China under the Kuomintang government in the 1920s.

Overall, the surname "Ku" has a rich and diverse history, with its origins rooted in ancient China. Throughout various dynasties and time periods, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions to various fields, including philosophy, literature, politics, and diplomacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ku

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

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

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

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