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

Rhee, 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 Rhee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rhee in America

Rhee is the 8141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rhee surname appeared 4,071 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 Rhee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rhee 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 Rhee

The surname Rhee has its origins in Korea, dating back several centuries. It is believed to have derived from the Korean word "ri," which means village or settlement. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a particular village or community.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Rhee can be found in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, a historical record that dates back to the 15th century. These annals documented the lives and achievements of various individuals, including those with the surname Rhee.

During the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century, there are records of a prominent scholar and official named Rhee Hyeon-jeong (1109-1187). He is known for his contributions to the development of Korean literature and his service as a high-ranking government official.

In the 16th century, there was a notable figure named Rhee Seong-gyu (1518-1599), who was a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar and philosopher. His works had a significant influence on the intellectual discourse of his time and are still studied by scholars today.

During the Joseon Dynasty, which lasted from the 14th to the 19th century, the Rhee family produced several notable figures. One such individual was Rhee Seung-hun (1491-1554), who served as a high-ranking military officer and played a crucial role in defending Korea against Japanese invasions.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Rhee was Syngman Rhee (1875-1965), who served as the first President of South Korea after the country gained independence from Japanese occupation in 1945. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of the modern South Korean state.

Another notable figure with the surname Rhee was Rhee Seung-man (1907-1995), a renowned Korean linguist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of the Korean language and its grammar.

While the surname Rhee is predominantly found in Korea, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots can be traced back to the Korean peninsula and its rich cultural and historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rhee

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

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

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

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