2000
#12,112
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,361
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.88
Rare Last name
Mo
A Chinese surname meaning "silent, profound, or tranquil," or referring to the millstone used for grinding grain.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,435 Americans carry the last name Mo. That puts it at #5,920 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.88 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 53,264 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mo 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Mo with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
6.4K
1 in 53,264
Census rank
#5,920
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,612 bearers of the surname Mo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.88 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5920th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mo, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 83.0%. The next largest groups are White (8.3%) and Hispanic (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mo
Among Census respondents with the surname Mo, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 83.0%. The next largest groups are White (8.3%) and Hispanic (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Mo 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 Mo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander83.0% · 4,656
- White8.3% · 465
- Hispanic or Latino3.7% · 208
- Black or African American2.6% · 146
- Two or more races2.4% · 132
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Mo
Mo appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#8,320
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,983
+1,622 bearers (+68.7%)
Per 100,000 1.35
Rank movement Up 3,792 places
2020
#5,920
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 5,612
+1,629 bearers (+40.9%)
Per 100,000 1.88
Rank movement Up 2,400 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #12,112 | 2,361 | 0.88 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #8,320 | 3,983 | 1.35 | +1,622 bearers (+68.7%) | Up 3,792 places |
| 2020 | #5,920 | 5,612 | 1.88 | +1,629 bearers (+40.9%) | Up 2,400 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 Mo 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 | #8,320 | #5,920 | 28.8% |
| Count | 3,983 | 5,612 | 40.9% |
| Per 100K | 1.35 | 1.88 | 39.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Mo bearers went from 3,983 to 5,612 (+40.9% change). The surname moved up 2,400 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,320 to #5,920.
FAQ
Mo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Mo?
Name Census estimates that about 6,435 living Americans carry the surname Mo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 53,264 residents.
How common is Mo?
Mo ranks #5,920 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.88 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 5,612 people with the surname Mo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (6,435), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.88 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.88 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Mo.
Has Mo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Mo went from 3,983 recorded bearers to 5,612. That is an increase of 1,629 (+40.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #8,320 to #5,920.
What does the Census say about the background of Mo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mo, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 83.0%. The next largest groups are White (8.3%) and Hispanic (3.7%). 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 Mo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 83.0% (4,656 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Mo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (83.0%), White (8.3%), Hispanic (3.7%). 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 Mo (2000, 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 Mo mean?
A Chinese surname meaning "silent, profound, or tranquil," or referring to the millstone used for grinding grain. 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 Mo (1.88 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 share the surname Mo?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.