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

Maeng, 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 Maeng surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maeng in America

Maeng is the 63373rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maeng surname appeared 315 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 Maeng.

We can also compare 2010 data for Maeng 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 Maeng

The surname "MAENG" is believed to have originated in Korea during the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled from 918 to 1392 AD. It is thought to have its roots in the Korean word "maeng," which means "bright" or "shining." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who was considered to have a bright or radiant personality or appearance.

The earliest known records of the surname "MAENG" date back to the late Goryeo period. It is mentioned in several historical texts and records from that time, indicating that it was in use among the Korean nobility and upper classes. One notable example is the "Goryeosa," a historical record of the Goryeo Dynasty, which mentions several individuals with the surname "MAENG."

During the Joseon Dynasty, which followed the Goryeo Dynasty and lasted from 1392 to 1897, the surname "MAENG" continued to be used and appeared in various official records and documents. One notable figure from this period was Maeng Sa-seong (1360-1438), a renowned scholar and calligrapher who served as a high-ranking official during the early years of the Joseon Dynasty.

Another notable individual with the surname "MAENG" was Maeng Ye-ryang (1625-1699), a prominent scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the development of Neo-Confucian thought in Korea. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Joseon era.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several individuals with the surname "MAENG" played important roles in Korea's struggle for independence from Japanese colonial rule. One such figure was Maeng Se-chang (1864-1939), a prominent educator and independence activist who helped establish modern education in Korea.

Another notable individual with the surname "MAENG" was Maeng Sang-hoon (1884-1930), a patriotic journalist and writer who played a pivotal role in the Korean independence movement. He was one of the key figures behind the March 1st Movement of 1919, a massive peaceful protest against Japanese colonial rule.

While the surname "MAENG" has its origins in Korea, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and diaspora communities. However, it remains most prevalent in Korea, where it continues to be a respected and historically significant surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maeng

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

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

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

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