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

Qi, 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 Qi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Qi in America

Qi is the 13042nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Qi surname appeared 2,354 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 Qi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Qi 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 Qi

The surname Qi has its origins in China, tracing back to the 7th century AD during the Tang Dynasty. It is derived from the Chinese word "qi," which means "breath" or "vital force" in Mandarin, reflecting the ancient Chinese philosophy and concept of life energy or life force that flows through all living things.

The name Qi was initially adopted by families or clans residing in the central and eastern regions of China, particularly in the provinces of Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu. It is believed that some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Qi can be found in local genealogical records and historical documents from these regions.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Qi can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty poet and scholar Qi Biao (687-743 AD), who was renowned for his literary works and contributions to the development of Chinese poetry during the golden age of the Tang era.

Another notable figure bearing the Qi surname was Qi Jiguang (1528-1588), a renowned military strategist and general during the Ming Dynasty. He is celebrated for his successful defense against the Japanese pirates and his innovative military strategies, which were documented in his book "Jixiao Xinshu" (lit. "New Treatise on Military Efficiency").

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Qi surname gained prominence in the regions of modern-day Zhejiang province, where the city of Qizhou (present-day Huzhou) was established, taking its name from the Qi clan that had settled in the area.

In the 13th century, Qi Yuzhang (1219-1293) was a famous Confucian scholar and statesman who served as a high-ranking official in the Yuan Dynasty. His works on Confucian philosophy and governance principles were widely studied and influential during his time.

Another notable figure was Qi Jiguang (1528-1588), a renowned military strategist and general during the Ming Dynasty, celebrated for his successful defense against Japanese pirates and his innovative military strategies documented in his book "Jixiao Xinshu."

Over the centuries, the Qi surname has spread across China and beyond, with many individuals bearing this name making significant contributions to various fields, including literature, philosophy, politics, and military strategy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Qi

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

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

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

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