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

Shei, 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 Shei surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shei in America

Shei is the 115034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shei surname appeared 152 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 Shei.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shei 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 Shei

The surname SHEI originated in ancient China, with records of its use dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). It is believed to have derived from the Chinese word "shei," which means "scholar" or "learned person." The name was initially associated with individuals who were educated and worked as scholars or teachers in imperial China.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the SHEI name gained prominence as several notable scholars and poets bore this surname. One of the most famous was SHEI Qingcang (738-806 AD), a renowned poet and calligrapher who served as a court official under the Tang emperors.

The SHEI surname also appeared in ancient Chinese texts and records, including the "Book of Tang" and the "New Book of Tang," which documented the achievements and biographies of significant historical figures. These texts provide valuable insights into the history and origins of the SHEI name.

As the Chinese Empire expanded and trade routes flourished, the SHEI surname spread to other regions of East Asia. In Korea, the name was transliterated as "Se" or "Seo," while in Japan, it became "Sei" or "Sai."

Interestingly, the SHEI surname has also been linked to place names in China. For instance, the town of Sheiquan in Sichuan province is believed to have derived its name from the SHEI family that resided there. Similarly, the Sheixian County in Hebei province is thought to have been named after a prominent SHEI clan.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the SHEI surname. One of the earliest was SHEI Xiangxu (1611-1693), a famous Chinese painter and calligrapher during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Another influential figure was SHEI Zhaochen (1868-1938), a renowned educator and reformer who played a crucial role in modernizing China's education system.

In more recent times, SHEI Chih-Yi (1933-2022) was a celebrated Taiwanese writer and academic who made significant contributions to modern Chinese literature. SHEI Huajian (1879-1949) was a prominent Chinese politician and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the United States in the 1940s.

The SHEI surname has a rich history and has been associated with scholars, artists, and influential figures across various eras of Chinese civilization. While its origins can be traced back to ancient times, the name continues to hold significance and cultural resonance in modern Chinese society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shei

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

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

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

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