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

Tse, 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 Tse surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tse in America

Tse is the 5582nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tse surname appeared 6,227 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Tse.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tse 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 Tse

The surname "Tse" originated in China, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Chinese character "澤" (ze), which means "marsh" or "pool". This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a marsh or body of water.

In the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the surname Tse was recorded as "澤" in historical documents. During this period, it was common for Chinese surnames to be derived from geographical features, occupations, or personal characteristics. The Tse surname likely originated from a location or a person's association with a marsh or wetland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tse surname can be found in the "Zizhi Tongjian" (資治通鑑), a renowned historical text compiled by Chinese scholar Sima Guang during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). This work mentions several individuals with the surname Tse who held official positions or played significant roles in historical events.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), a prominent figure named Tse Wan (1492-1533) was a renowned scholar and calligrapher. He was known for his mastery of the "cursive script" and his contributions to the development of Chinese calligraphy.

Another notable individual bearing the Tse surname was Tse Tsan-tai (1872-1938), a Chinese revolutionist and politician who played an important role in the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which overthrew the Qing Dynasty and established the Republic of China.

During the Tang Dynasty, the Tse surname was also associated with the ancient city of Tse Cheng (澤城), located in present-day Shandong Province. This city was known for its strategic location near marshlands and its role as a trade center.

In addition to its Chinese roots, the surname Tse has also been adopted by various ethnic groups in Southeast Asia, such as the Hmong and Vietnamese communities. In these regions, the name may have slightly different pronunciations or spellings, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of the local languages.

Throughout history, the Tse surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, politicians, and military leaders. While the name's origins can be traced back to ancient China, its legacy has been shaped by the diverse experiences and contributions of those who have borne it over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tse

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

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

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

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