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

Niu, 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 Niu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Niu in America

Niu is the 19646th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Niu surname appeared 1,372 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 Niu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Niu 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 Niu

The surname NIU has its origins in China, dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is believed to have originated from the ancient Chinese word "niu" which means "ox" or "cattle." The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the region of Henan Province, particularly in the cities of Luoyang and Kaifeng, which were the capitals of several dynasties during that time period.

One possible explanation for the origin of this surname is that it may have been derived from a place name or village associated with cattle farming or ox-related activities. Another theory suggests that it could have been adopted by individuals who worked as ox herders or in professions related to cattle rearing.

In ancient Chinese records, the NIU surname can be found in various historical manuscripts and chronicles, such as the "Book of Tang" and the "New Book of Tang." These sources provide insights into the social status and occupations of individuals bearing this surname during that era.

One notable figure in Chinese history with the surname NIU was Niu Sengru (778-824 AD), a renowned scholar and calligrapher during the Tang Dynasty. He was highly regarded for his contributions to literature and the arts.

Another prominent individual was Niu Xiu (1594-1644), a Ming Dynasty official and military leader who played a significant role in the transition to the Qing Dynasty. He was praised for his loyalty and bravery in defending the Ming against the Manchu invaders.

In the realm of Chinese philosophy, Niu Shuyu (1593-1644) was a notable Neo-Confucian scholar and writer who contributed to the development of the Cheng-Zhu school of thought.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), Niu Jian (1619-1692) was a renowned playwright and poet who gained fame for his contributions to the literary scene of that era.

Lastly, in more recent times, Niu Gengsheng (1905-1982) was a prominent Chinese mathematician known for his work in statistics and probability theory. He was a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and made significant contributions to the field of mathematics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Niu

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

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

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

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