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

Song, 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 Song surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Song in America

Song is the 1415th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Song surname appeared 25,110 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Song.

We can also compare 2010 data for Song 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 Song

The surname "SONG" is believed to have originated in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese word "宋" (Sòng), which was the name of the ruling imperial family during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). The name was initially associated with the imperial clan and its descendants, but later became a widespread surname adopted by various families and individuals.

The Song Dynasty was a significant period in Chinese history, renowned for its economic prosperity, cultural achievements, and technological advancements. During this time, the use of surnames became more widespread, and the "SONG" surname gained prominence as a symbol of prestige and association with the imperial family.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the "SONG" surname can be found in the "Song Huiyao" (宋會要), a comprehensive collection of official documents and records from the Song Dynasty. This work contains numerous references to individuals bearing the "SONG" surname, indicating its prevalence during that era.

In the subsequent centuries, the "SONG" surname spread across various regions of China, and its spelling and pronunciation evolved slightly in different areas. For example, in some regions, it was written as "宋" or "松," while in others, it was pronounced as "Sòng" or "Shùn."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the "SONG" surname, including:

1. Song Qiqiu (宋齊鳩, 998-1061), a prominent Neo-Confucian philosopher and scholar during the Song Dynasty.
2. Song Lian (宋濂, 1310-1381), a renowned historian and calligrapher of the Yuan Dynasty.
3. Song Yingxing (宋應星, 1587-1666), a renowned scientist and inventor who made significant contributions to agricultural technology and hydraulic engineering during the Ming Dynasty.
4. Song Meiling (宋美齡, 1897-2003), the wife of Chiang Kai-shek, the former President of the Republic of China, and a prominent figure in Chinese politics and diplomacy.
5. Song Jingshi (宋經世, 1882-1965), a renowned geologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of prehistoric life in China.

The "SONG" surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Chinese culture and Imperial dynasties, with numerous individuals bearing this name leaving their mark across various fields, from philosophy and literature to science and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Song

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

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

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

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