2000
#107,038
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 154
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.06
Very Rare Last name
Tongol
A surname possibly derived from a variation of the Filipino name "Tongol", meaning one who gathers or hunts for tuna fish.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 350 Americans carry the last name Tongol. That puts it at #69,365 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 979,298 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tongol surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
350
1 in 979,298
Census rank
#69,365
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
305
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 305 bearers of the surname Tongol in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 69365th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tongol, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.2%) and White (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tongol
The surname Tongol originates from the Philippines, specifically from the Visayan region in the central part of the archipelago. It is believed to have roots in the Visayan language, with possible connections to words related to fishing or maritime activities.
The earliest known records of the Tongol name date back to the 16th century, during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. Some historical documents from that era, such as parish records and census data, mention individuals bearing the Tongol surname, indicating its presence in the region at that time.
One notable individual with the Tongol surname was Juan Tongol, a 17th-century fisherman and trader from the island of Cebu. He was known for his extensive knowledge of the local waters and his successful trading ventures, which helped establish the name's association with maritime endeavors.
Another historical figure was Maria Tongol, born in 1812 in Iloilo, who was a respected local healer and midwife. Her expertise in traditional medicine and her compassionate service to the community earned her recognition and respect among her contemporaries.
In the late 19th century, Pedro Tongol, a farmer from Leyte, gained notoriety for his involvement in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. He played a significant role in organizing local resistance efforts and providing supplies to revolutionary forces.
During the early 20th century, Josefa Tongol, born in 1887 in Negros Occidental, made a name for herself as a talented weaver and advocate for preserving traditional textile arts. Her intricate designs and commitment to passing on her knowledge to younger generations earned her praise and recognition.
One of the most prominent individuals with the Tongol surname was Manuel Tongol, born in 1920 in Bohol. He was a renowned poet and writer who celebrated the beauty of the Visayan language and culture through his works. His contributions to Philippine literature were widely acclaimed, and he received numerous awards and honors during his lifetime.
While the Tongol surname may have evolved from its maritime origins, it has become a respected name throughout the Philippines, representing a diverse array of professions and contributions to various aspects of society over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tongol
Among Census respondents with the surname Tongol, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.2%) and White (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Tongol bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Tongol surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander86.9% · 265
- Two or more races8.2% · 25
- White3.0% · 9
- Hispanic or Latino1.3% · 4
- Black or African American0.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Tongol
Tongol appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#75,799
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 254
+100 bearers (+64.9%)
Per 100,000 0.09
Rank movement Up 31,239 places
2020
#69,365
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 305
+51 bearers (+20.1%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Up 6,434 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #107,038 | 154 | 0.06 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #75,799 | 254 | 0.09 | +100 bearers (+64.9%) | Up 31,239 places |
| 2020 | #69,365 | 305 | 0.10 | +51 bearers (+20.1%) | Up 6,434 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Tongol surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #75,799 | #69,365 | 8.5% |
| Count | 254 | 305 | 20.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.09 | 0.10 | 13.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Tongol bearers went from 254 to 305 (+20.1% change). The surname moved up 6,434 positions in the national ranking, going from #75,799 to #69,365.
FAQ
Tongol surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Tongol?
Name Census estimates that about 350 living Americans carry the surname Tongol. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 979,298 residents.
How common is Tongol?
Tongol ranks #69,365 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 305 people with the surname Tongol. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (350), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.1 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.10 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Tongol.
Has Tongol become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Tongol went from 254 recorded bearers to 305. That is an increase of 51 (+20.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #75,799 to #69,365.
What does the Census say about the background of Tongol?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tongol, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.2%) and White (3.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Tongol in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.9% (265 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Tongol appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (86.9%), Two or More Races (8.2%), White (3.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Tongol (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Tongol mean?
A surname possibly derived from a variation of the Filipino name "Tongol", meaning one who gathers or hunts for tuna fish. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Tongol (0.10 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Tongol?
You can see how many people have the surname Tongol on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.