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

Pi, 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 Pi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pi in America

Pi is the 24762nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pi surname appeared 1,006 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 Pi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pi 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 Pi

The surname Pi is believed to have originated in China, with roots dating back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Chinese word "pi," which means "to spread" or "to propagate." This name was likely given to families or individuals whose occupations were related to agricultural activities or the dissemination of knowledge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pi can be found in the Tang Dynasty records from the 7th century AD. These records mention several individuals with the surname Pi who held positions of importance within the imperial court or were renowned scholars of the time.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the surname Pi gained further recognition, and several notable figures emerged. One such individual was Pi Rixiu (1064-1154), a renowned painter and calligrapher whose works were highly celebrated. Another prominent figure was Pi Guangyuan (1164-1233), a Confucian scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the Neo-Confucian movement.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Pi surname continued to be associated with scholarly pursuits. Pi Hongxi (1453-1516), a renowned writer and poet, gained widespread acclaim for his literary works. Additionally, Pi Yimin (1592-1642) was a respected Confucian scholar and official who served during the reign of the Chongzhen Emperor.

As the Chinese diaspora spread across the globe, the surname Pi became more widely dispersed. In the 19th century, notable individuals with the surname Pi emerged in various parts of the world. For example, Pi Tingzi (1840-1891) was a Chinese diplomat and translator who played a crucial role in facilitating cultural exchange between China and the West.

Throughout history, the surname Pi has been associated with various place names and variations in spelling. For instance, the surname was sometimes written as "Bi" or "Pei" in certain regions of China. Additionally, some place names such as Pixian (in Sichuan Province) and Pixian County (in Jiangsu Province) may have derived their names from the Pi surname or vice versa.

It is worth noting that while the surname Pi has a rich history spanning centuries, there are likely many other notable individuals who have contributed to its legacy but whose stories have been lost or obscured over time. Nonetheless, the enduring presence of the surname Pi serves as a testament to its significance in Chinese culture and tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pi

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

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

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

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