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

Kung, 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 Kung surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kung in America

Kung is the 10348th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kung surname appeared 3,113 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 Kung.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kung 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 Kung

The surname Kung has its origins in China, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. The name is derived from the Chinese word "kung," which means "grandfather" or "venerable elder." It was likely initially used as a respectful address or title before becoming a hereditary family name.

In ancient Chinese texts and historical records, the name Kung can be found in various spellings and forms, including Gong, Gung, and Khung. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the "Zizhi Tongjian," a renowned historical work compiled during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), which mentions individuals with the surname Kung.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Kung family was particularly prominent, with several notable individuals bearing this surname. For instance, Kung Xian (1482-1568) was a renowned scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the Neo-Confucian movement.

Another celebrated figure with the surname Kung was Kung Zhida (1536-1573), a skilled military strategist and general who played a crucial role in suppressing the Nian Rebellion, a major peasant uprising during the late Ming period.

In the 17th century, Kung Xiangxi (1597-1662) was a prominent scholar and author who wrote extensively on Chinese history, literature, and philosophy. His works, such as the "Kungyulu" (Conversations of Master Kung), are considered valuable sources of information on the intellectual and cultural life of that era.

Moving forward, the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) saw the rise of Kung Guanxi (1801-1875), a renowned scholar and educator who played a pivotal role in reforming the Chinese education system. He was instrumental in establishing modern schools and advocating for the incorporation of Western knowledge into the traditional Chinese curriculum.

It is worth noting that the surname Kung has also been associated with various place names in China, such as Kung County in Shandong Province and Kung Village in Henan Province. These place names often derive from the presence of Kung families in those regions or from historical events or figures associated with the surname.

Throughout history, the Kung surname has been carried by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, philosophy, military strategy, education, and governance. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its deep-rooted connection to Chinese culture and history remains evident.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kung

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

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

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

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