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

Tjong, 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 Tjong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tjong in America

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

The Tjong 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 Tjong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tjong 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 Tjong

The surname TJONG originated in Indonesia, specifically in the region of Java, during the 17th century. It is derived from the Javanese language and is believed to be a variation of the word "tjondro," which means "shining" or "radiant."

The earliest known record of the TJONG surname dates back to 1683, when it appeared in a Dutch colonial document referring to a local Javanese resident. This document is part of the archives of the Dutch East India Company, which controlled much of the Indonesian archipelago during that period.

In the 18th century, the TJONG surname started to spread beyond Java, as some families migrated to other parts of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). It is believed that the name was initially associated with members of the local gentry or nobility, as the meaning "shining" or "radiant" implied a certain level of prestige.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the TJONG surname was Tjong A Fie (1785-1854), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Surabaya, East Java. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his involvement in local politics.

Another historical figure with this surname was Tjong Yong Hian (1823-1895), a influential businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of education and healthcare facilities in the city of Semarang, Central Java.

In the late 19th century, the TJONG surname also began to appear in Chinese-Indonesian communities, as some families adopted or adapted the name due to its similarity to certain Chinese surnames.

One notable example from this period is Tjong A Fie (1860-1921), a successful entrepreneur and industrialist who played a key role in the development of the sugar industry in Java.

During the 20th century, several individuals with the TJONG surname gained recognition in various fields, such as politics, academia, and the arts.

One such individual was Tjong Tjin Leng (1901-1985), a prominent political figure who served as the Governor of East Java and later as the Minister of Home Affairs in Indonesia.

Another notable figure was Tjong Khing Sang (1922-2011), an acclaimed painter and sculptor who was celebrated for his contributions to the Indonesian art scene.

While the TJONG surname has its roots in Java and Indonesia, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the Indonesian archipelago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tjong

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

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

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

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