2010
#133,048
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 127
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Libao
A Chinese surname possibly derived from a place name or locality.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Libao. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Libao surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Libao in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Libao, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.0%) and White (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Libao
The surname LIBAO has its origins rooted in the Philippines, with the name first appearing in historical records during the 16th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Tagalog word "liba," which means "excess" or "surplus," combined with the Spanish suffix "-ao," indicating a place or origin.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LIBAO can be found in the "Libro de las Casadas," a Spanish document dating back to the late 1500s. This manuscript contains records of marriages performed in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, with several mentions of individuals bearing the LIBAO surname.
The LIBAO name is also closely associated with the town of Libao, located in the province of Albay on the island of Luzon. It is believed that the town's name, and subsequently the surname, originated from the abundance of natural resources in the area, particularly agricultural produce.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the LIBAO surname. One such figure was Rodrigo LIBAO, a prominent landowner and community leader in the town of Libao during the late 18th century. His influence and wealth contributed significantly to the town's development.
Another notable LIBAO was Maria LIBAO, a renowned writer and poet from the early 20th century. Born in 1892, her works celebrated Filipino culture and traditions, earning her widespread recognition and respect among literary circles of her time.
In the realm of politics, Juan LIBAO served as a member of the Philippine Senate from 1949 to 1957. He was a vocal advocate for agrarian reform and played a crucial role in shaping the country's land distribution policies during his tenure.
The LIBAO name also has a strong military presence, with General Ernesto LIBAO being a highly decorated officer in the Philippine Army during World War II. His bravery and leadership during the war earned him numerous accolades and honors.
Another notable figure was Josefa LIBAO, a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in the Philippines in the late 19th century. Her efforts paved the way for greater access to education for women in the country.
While the LIBAO surname has its roots firmly planted in the Philippines, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its historical significance and ties to the Philippine culture and heritage remain strong.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Libao
Among Census respondents with the surname Libao, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.0%) and White (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Libao bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Libao surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander89.7% · 105
- Two or more races6.0% · 7
- White3.4% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Libao
Libao appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
-10 bearers (-7.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 11,222 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #133,048 | 127 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | -10 bearers (-7.9%) | Down 11,222 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Libao surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #133,048 | #144,270 | -8.4% |
| Count | 127 | 117 | -7.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Libao bearers went from 127 to 117 (-7.9% change). The surname moved down 11,222 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,048 to #144,270.
FAQ
Libao surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Libao?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Libao. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Libao?
Libao ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 117 people with the surname Libao. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Libao.
Has Libao become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Libao went from 127 recorded bearers to 117. That is a decrease of 10 (-7.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,048 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Libao?
Among Census respondents with the surname Libao, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.0%) and White (3.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Libao in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.7% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Libao appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (89.7%), Two or More Races (6.0%), White (3.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Libao (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Libao mean?
A Chinese surname possibly derived from a place name or locality. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Libao (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Libao?
Find out how many people have the last name Libao on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.