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

Shang, 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 Shang surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shang in America

Shang is the 23532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shang surname appeared 1,079 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 Shang.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shang 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 Shang

The surname SHANG has its origins in China, tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "shang," which means "merchants" or "traders." The surname is closely associated with the Shang Dynasty, one of the earliest ruling dynasties in Chinese history, which reigned from around 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE.

The Shang Dynasty was centered in the Yellow River Valley, particularly in the modern-day provinces of Henan, Shandong, and Hebei. During this period, the name SHANG likely referred to individuals or families involved in mercantile activities or trading within the kingdom.

Historical references to the surname SHANG can be found in various ancient Chinese texts and records. One notable example is the "Shiji" (Records of the Grand Historian) written by Sima Qian, a renowned historian from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE), which mentions individuals bearing the SHANG surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname SHANG was Shang Yang (390 BCE - 338 BCE), a renowned statesman and philosopher during the Warring States period. He served as a prominent reformer and lawmaker in the state of Qin, laying the groundwork for the eventual unification of China under the Qin Dynasty.

Another notable figure was Shang Qu (1677 - 1753), a scholar and artist from the Qing Dynasty known for his calligraphic works and landscape paintings. His artistic contributions were highly regarded during his lifetime and continue to be celebrated in Chinese art circles.

In the realm of literature, Shang Qinghua (1892 - 1970) was a prominent writer and playwright who played a significant role in the development of modern Chinese drama. His works, including "The Thunderstorm" and "The Ye Family," explored social issues and the conflicts between tradition and modernity.

During the Ming Dynasty, the SHANG surname was also associated with a notable family of scholars and officials. Shang Zhixin (1513 - 1597) was a prominent scholar and minister who served under several Ming emperors, known for his expertise in Confucian classics and his contributions to governance.

Another influential figure was Shang Kexi (1604 - 1676), a Ming Dynasty scholar and philosopher. He was a prominent advocate of the Donglin Movement, a reformist movement that sought to uphold Confucian values and promote moral governance within the Ming court.

The surname SHANG has a rich history rooted in ancient China, with its earliest associations dating back to the Shang Dynasty and the mercantile activities of that era. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made significant contributions across various fields, including philosophy, art, literature, and governance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shang

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

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

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

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