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

Sanyang, 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 Sanyang surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sanyang in America

Sanyang is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sanyang surname appeared 201 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 Sanyang.

The history of the last name Sanyang

The surname SANYANG is believed to have originated in China, specifically in the Fujian province. It can be traced back to the Song Dynasty, which ruled from 960 to 1279 AD. The name is thought to derive from the Chinese characters 三阳, which translate to "Three Suns" or "Three Yangs." This could potentially be a reference to the three celestial bodies, the sun, moon, and stars, or it could be a more symbolic representation of the balance between the three fundamental principles of Taoism: heaven, earth, and humanity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SANYANG name can be found in the Qing Dynasty archives from the 17th century. These documents mention a scholar and poet named SANYANG Zhiyi, who lived during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (1654-1722). Unfortunately, there are few details available about his life and works, but his inclusion in the imperial records suggests that he held some level of prominence or recognition during his time.

Another notable figure with the SANYANG surname was a military general named SANYANG Wentao, who served during the Qing Dynasty's conquest of Xinjiang in the late 18th century. Born in 1745, he played a crucial role in the campaign to establish Qing control over the region, leading several successful battles against the Dzungar Khanate. His military exploits and strategic prowess were widely celebrated, and he was eventually granted the honorific title of "Defender of the Nation."

In more recent history, a prominent SANYANG figure was the linguist and scholar SANYANG Zhongguang (1892-1968). Born in Fujian province, he dedicated his life to the study of Chinese dialects and minority languages. His research and publications were instrumental in preserving and documenting the linguistic diversity of China. He is particularly renowned for his work on the Min dialects spoken in Fujian, which remains an essential reference for linguists and scholars to this day.

Another notable individual with the SANYANG surname was the artist and calligrapher SANYANG Shuyu (1916-1995). Born in Guangdong province, he was widely acclaimed for his mastery of traditional Chinese brushwork and his innovative approach to calligraphy. Many of his works are housed in prestigious museums and art collections around the world, and he is regarded as one of the most influential calligraphers of the 20th century.

Lastly, a more contemporary figure with the SANYANG surname is the entrepreneur and philanthropist SANYANG Dongsheng, born in 1962. He founded one of China's largest technology companies, which specializes in telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics. Despite his success in business, SANYANG Dongsheng is also known for his philanthropic endeavors, particularly his support for education initiatives and environmental conservation efforts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sanyang

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

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 Sanyang 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.

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

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

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