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

Liau, 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 Liau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Liau in America

Liau is the 79846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Liau surname appeared 238 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 Liau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Liau 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 Liau

The surname LIAU is believed to have its origins in China, dating back several centuries. It is thought to be derived from a Chinese dialect word or place name, although the exact etymology is uncertain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LIAU surname can be found in historical documents from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). During this period, the name appeared in official records and manuscripts, suggesting it was in use among certain families or clans.

In ancient Chinese texts, there are references to a small village or settlement called "Liau-shan," which translates to "Willow Mountain." This could potentially be related to the origin of the LIAU surname, as it was common for Chinese families to adopt surnames based on their place of residence or ancestry.

One notable individual with the LIAU surname was LIAU Qi-ming, a scholar and poet who lived during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Born in 1718, he was known for his elegant and introspective writings, and his works were widely circulated among literary circles of the time.

Another historical figure was LIAU Zhi-xian, a renowned military strategist and general who served under the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century. He was instrumental in several decisive battles against invading forces and is celebrated for his tactical brilliance and loyalty to the empire.

In the realm of art and culture, LIAU Hai-ying (1789-1853) was a celebrated painter and calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty. His works, which often depicted landscapes and nature scenes, were highly sought after by collectors and patrons alike.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), there was a prominent Buddhist monk named LIAU Xuan-zhi, who was revered for his spiritual teachings and contributions to the spread of Buddhism throughout China. He is said to have founded several monasteries and attracted many followers.

Lastly, LIAU Mei-ling (1904-1992) was a notable figure in modern Chinese history. Born in Guangdong province, she was a political activist and played a significant role in the women's rights movement, advocating for gender equality and education for girls.

While the LIAU surname may have evolved and spread to different regions over time, its origins can be traced back to ancient China, where it held a rich historical legacy and was borne by numerous notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Liau

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

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

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

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