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

Mou, 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 Mou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mou in America

Mou is the 33810th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mou surname appeared 673 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 Mou.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mou 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 Mou

The surname "Mou" is believed to have originated in China, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 6th century AD. It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "mou," which means "ink" or "black." This could suggest that the name was initially associated with individuals who worked as calligraphers or ink-makers.

In ancient Chinese records, the name "Mou" appears in various manuscripts and historical texts, including the Tang Dynasty annals. One notable figure bearing this surname was Mou Quan, a renowned poet and scholar who lived during the 8th century AD.

As the centuries passed, the surname "Mou" spread to different regions of China, and its spelling variations emerged, such as "Mao" and "Mo." These variations were often influenced by local dialects and regional pronunciation differences.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), a prominent figure named Mou Rong made significant contributions to the development of Chinese landscape painting, earning him recognition as one of the most influential artists of his time.

In the 13th century, a military commander named Mou Ying played a crucial role in defending China against Mongol invasions, leading his troops to several decisive victories.

The name "Mou" also found its way into Japanese culture, where it was adopted and adapted into the surname "Mori." One notable bearer of this name was Mori Ogai, a celebrated novelist, poet, and physician who lived from 1862 to 1922.

While the surname "Mou" has remained relatively uncommon outside of East Asia, it has left its mark on history through the accomplishments of individuals who carried this name. From scholars and artists to military leaders, the bearers of the "Mou" surname have contributed to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage across various disciplines.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mou

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

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

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

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