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

Peng, 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 Peng surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peng in America

Peng is the 3374th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peng surname appeared 10,575 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Peng.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peng 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 Peng

The surname PENG has its origins in China, where it dates back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "peng," which means "level" or "flat," suggesting that the name may have been given to families who lived in regions with flat terrain or open plains.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PENG surname can be found in the historical records of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it was mentioned as a prominent family name in the region of present-day Sichuan Province. During this period, the PENG family played a significant role in local governance and politics.

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the PENG surname gained further prominence with the rise of PENG Daya (945-1005), a renowned scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the development of Neo-Confucianism. His writings and teachings influenced generations of scholars and thinkers in China.

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) also saw the PENG surname associated with notable figures, such as PENG Sunyu (1615-1677), a prominent military leader and strategist who played a crucial role in the defense of China against the Manchu invasion.

In the realm of literature, PENG Cheng (1938-2020) was a celebrated Chinese novelist and screenwriter, known for his realistic depictions of urban life in contemporary China. His novels, such as "The Wandering Falcon" and "The Scorching Sun," received critical acclaim and brought him international recognition.

Another notable figure with the PENG surname was PENG Dehuai (1898-1974), a prominent military leader who played a significant role in the Chinese Civil War and the Korean War. He served as the Vice-Premier of the People's Republic of China from 1954 to 1959.

While the PENG surname has its roots in China, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. In Taiwan, for instance, there is a sizable population with the PENG surname, reflecting the shared cultural heritage with mainland China.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peng

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

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

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

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