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

Mo, 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 Mo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mo in America

Mo is the 8320th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mo surname appeared 3,983 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 Mo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mo 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 Mo

The surname "Mo" has its origins in China and is believed to have derived from the Chinese word "mo", which means "ink" or "inky". This name is predominantly found in regions such as Guangdong, Fujian, and Hong Kong.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it was mentioned in various historical texts and records. During this period, the surname was often written using different Chinese characters but had similar pronunciations.

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the name "Mo" gained prominence and was associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Mo Zi (470-391 BC), an influential Chinese philosopher who founded the school of Mohism. His teachings focused on utilitarianism, impartial care, and the "Will of Heaven".

Another notable bearer of the surname was Mo Yan (born 1955), a Chinese novelist and the recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature. His works, including "Red Sorghum" and "The Garlic Ballads", explored the complexities of contemporary Chinese society and rural life.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the name "Mo" was associated with various places and locations. For instance, Mo Village (摩村) in Guangdong Province was a prominent settlement for those bearing this surname. Additionally, the name "Moxian" (摩线), meaning "inky line", was used to refer to certain calligraphic styles and techniques.

In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the surname "Mo" continued to be prevalent, with several influential figures emerging. One such individual was Mo Longguang (1768-1832), a renowned painter and calligrapher known for his innovative techniques and unique style.

Throughout history, the surname "Mo" has been carried by numerous individuals, including Mo Xiong (born 1984), a Chinese professional basketball player; Mo Zi (470-391 BC), the founder of Mohism; Mo Longguang (1768-1832), the renowned painter and calligrapher; Mo Yan (born 1955), the Nobel Prize-winning novelist; and Mo Shaoping (born 1939), a Chinese lawyer and human rights activist.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mo

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!