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

Ming, 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 Ming surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ming in America

Ming is the 8718th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ming surname appeared 3,764 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 Ming.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ming 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 Ming

The surname MING originated in China during the Ming Dynasty, which ruled from 1368 to 1644. The name itself is derived from the Chinese characters meaning "bright" or "brilliant." It is believed to have been adopted as a surname by members of the imperial family or those closely associated with the ruling dynasty.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MING surname can be found in the historical records of the Ming Dynasty itself. These records document the lives and accomplishments of prominent individuals bearing this name, including government officials, scholars, and military leaders.

During the Ming Dynasty, the MING surname was particularly concentrated in the regions around the capital city of Nanjing and the surrounding areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Over time, as people migrated and settled in different parts of China, the MING surname spread to other regions as well.

In the realm of literature, one notable figure with the MING surname was Ming Jing (1428-1507), a renowned scholar and writer who served as an official in the Ming court. His works, which included poetry and essays, were widely admired and influential during his time.

Another prominent individual bearing the MING surname was Ming Zheng (1507-1583), a Confucian scholar and educator. He is renowned for his contributions to the development of neo-Confucian philosophy and for his efforts in promoting education and moral teachings.

In the field of art, the MING surname was carried by Ming Zhen (1568-1628), a renowned painter and calligrapher. His works, characterized by their delicate brushstrokes and elegant compositions, are considered among the finest examples of Ming Dynasty art.

During the Ming Dynasty, several place names were associated with the MING surname. For instance, the town of Mingxian in Sichuan province was named after a prominent MING family who lived in the area. Similarly, the village of Mingshan in Anhui province derived its name from the MING lineage that resided there.

Throughout history, the MING surname has been carried by many other notable individuals, including military leaders, merchants, and artists. While the surname may have evolved in its spelling or pronunciation across different regions, its connection to the illustrious Ming Dynasty remains a defining part of its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ming

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

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

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

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