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

Leung, 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 Leung surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leung in America

Leung is the 1747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leung surname appeared 20,496 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Leung.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leung 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 Leung

The surname LEUNG is believed to have originated in China, with its roots dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese characters 梁, which can be translated as "bridge" or "beam." The name's origins can be traced to various regions in southern and eastern China, including Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian provinces.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LEUNG surname can be found in historical documents from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it appeared in local records and genealogical texts. The name was also mentioned in the renowned literary work "The Water Margin," a classic novel from the 14th century that depicted the lives of a group of outlaws during the Song Dynasty.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the LEUNG surname gained prominence and was associated with several notable figures. One such individual was LEUNG Wan-zai (1591-1673), a renowned scholar and calligrapher who served as an official in the imperial court. Another notable bearer of the LEUNG name was LEUNG Qing (1632-1718), a celebrated painter and poet known for his landscape paintings and calligraphic works.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the LEUNG surname continued to be well-represented among scholars, artists, and officials. One prominent figure was LEUNG Fat (1763-1826), a renowned poet and essayist who made significant contributions to the literary world of his time. Additionally, LEUNG Yee-tsi (1719-1796) was a highly respected Confucian scholar and philosopher who played a crucial role in reviving and preserving the teachings of Confucianism during the Qing era.

In more recent history, the LEUNG surname has been associated with several notable individuals. LEUNG Chun-ying (born 1954) is a prominent Hong Kong politician who served as the Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2012 to 2017. LEUNG Ka-lau (1905-1977) was a renowned Cantonese opera singer and actor who made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Cantonese opera.

The LEUNG surname has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout China. For example, the village of Leung Uk Tsuen in Hong Kong's New Territories is believed to have derived its name from the LEUNG family who settled in the area. Similarly, the Leung Shuen Wan Bay in the New Territories is named after the LEUNG clan that once inhabited the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leung

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

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

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

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