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

Sheng, 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 Sheng surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sheng in America

Sheng is the 16273rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sheng surname appeared 1,772 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 Sheng.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sheng 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 Sheng

The surname Sheng has its origins in China, with records of the name dating back to the 6th century AD. It is derived from the Chinese word "sheng," which means "to rise" or "to become successful." The name was likely given to those who achieved a high level of success or status in their respective fields.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Sheng can be found in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where a scholar named Sheng Xuanhuai (608-670 AD) gained recognition for his contributions to the development of Chinese calligraphy. His works were widely studied and admired, cementing the Sheng name in the annals of Chinese literary history.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Sheng family was known for their contributions to the imperial court. Sheng Shoucong (1036-1093 AD), a renowned statesman and scholar, served as a high-ranking official and was instrumental in implementing various reforms aimed at improving the governance of the empire.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Sheng family produced several notable figures, including Sheng Zongxi (1568-1647 AD), a prominent philosopher and writer who advocated for the revival of Confucian ideals. His works, such as "The Explanation of the Four Books," had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of the time.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Sheng was Sheng Xuanhuai (1844-1916 AD), a prominent scholar and educator during the late Qing Dynasty. He was instrumental in establishing modern educational institutions in China and played a crucial role in promoting the study of Western sciences and technology.

Another notable figure was Sheng Shumo (1860-1944 AD), a military leader and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of the Republic of China during the early 20th century. He was known for his efforts to modernize China's military and played a significant role in the country's transition from an imperial dynasty to a republic.

The surname Sheng can also be found in various place names across China, such as Shengzhou, a city in Zhejiang Province, and Shengxian, a county in Zhejiang Province, reflecting the historical presence and influence of the Sheng family in these regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sheng

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

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

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

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