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

Ngai, 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 Ngai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ngai in America

Ngai is the 17392nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ngai surname appeared 1,623 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 Ngai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ngai 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 Ngai

The surname NGAI originates from China, where it has been in use for centuries. It is derived from the Cantonese word "ngai," which means "to be bright" or "to be intelligent." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who were considered particularly intelligent or enlightened.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname NGAI can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it appeared in historical records and official documents. Some of the earliest known bearers of this name include Ngai Zhongshan, a scholar and poet who lived during the 8th century, and Ngai Yongxiu, a celebrated calligrapher from the 9th century.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the NGAI surname became more widespread, particularly in the southern regions of China. One notable figure from this period was Ngai Shunyuan, a renowned painter and art critic who lived in the 11th century.

As the centuries passed, the NGAI surname continued to spread across China, with various regional variations in its pronunciation and spelling. In some areas, it was written as "Ngai," while in others, it was written as "Nai" or "Nge."

One of the most famous historical figures with the NGAI surname was Ngai Guoquan (1501-1581), a renowned military strategist and general who served under the Ming Dynasty. His exploits in defending China against various invaders and rebellions earned him a reputation as one of the greatest military minds of his time.

Another notable figure was Ngai Xingjiang (1619-1683), a scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism. His writings on ethics and morality were widely influential during the Qing Dynasty.

In more recent history, the NGAI surname has been associated with several prominent individuals, such as Ngai Wengung (1886-1965), a celebrated artist and calligrapher known for his innovative techniques and unique style. Another notable figure was Ngai Zhongren (1906-1998), a renowned architect who played a significant role in the development of modern Chinese architecture.

Throughout its long history, the NGAI surname has been carried by scholars, artists, military leaders, and individuals from various walks of life, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of China.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ngai

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

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

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

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