2000
#438
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 67,570
First available Census row
Per 100,000 25.05
Common Last name
Wang
A Chinese surname meaning "king" or "monarch," originally referring to a person of royal lineage or regal bearing.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 194,928 Americans carry the last name Wang. That puts it at #151 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 56.87 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,758 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wang 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Wang with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
195K
1 in 1,758
Census rank
#151
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
56.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
170K
common in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 169,987 bearers of the surname Wang in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 56.87 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wang, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.6%. The next largest groups are White (3.2%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wang
The surname WANG has its origins in China, dating back to ancient times. It is believed to have derived from the Chinese word 'wang', which means 'king' or 'ruler'. The name was initially used as a title for royalty and nobility, but over time, it became a common surname adopted by families across various regions of China.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname WANG can be found in the Shiji, a historical record compiled by the Han dynasty historian Sima Qian around 109 BC. This work mentions several individuals bearing the surname WANG, indicating its widespread use during that era.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the WANG surname gained prominence, with many notable figures emerging from this lineage. One such individual was Wang Wei, a renowned poet, painter, and calligrapher, who lived from 701 to 761 AD. His works are considered masterpieces of Chinese literature and art.
Another prominent figure was Wang Anshi, a statesman, and philosopher who lived from 1021 to 1086 AD. He is known for his ambitious reforms aimed at strengthening the Song Dynasty's economy and military. His ideas, though controversial at the time, had a lasting impact on Chinese thought and governance.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the WANG surname continued to be widespread. One notable figure from this period was Wang Yangming, a philosopher and educator who lived from 1472 to 1529 AD. He is famous for his teachings on the unity of knowledge and action, which influenced Neo-Confucian thought.
In more recent history, the WANG surname has been carried by influential figures such as Wang Xiaoping (1938-1997), a Chinese revolutionary and military leader who played a significant role in the Communist Party's struggle for power. Additionally, Wang Huning (born 1955) is a prominent political theorist and current member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Throughout its long history, the WANG surname has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For example, the city of Wangcheng in Hunan Province was named after the WANG family, and the alternative spelling 'Wong' is commonly found among Chinese communities in Southeast Asia and other regions.
The WANG surname has left an indelible mark on Chinese history, with its bearers making significant contributions across various fields, from literature and art to philosophy, politics, and military affairs. Its rich legacy continues to be celebrated and studied, reflecting the diverse and influential role it has played in shaping Chinese culture and society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wang
Among Census respondents with the surname Wang, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.6%. The next largest groups are White (3.2%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Wang 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 Wang surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander94.6% · 160,724
- White3.2% · 5,392
- Two or more races1.4% · 2,333
- Black or African American0.5% · 804
- Hispanic or Latino0.4% · 707
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 27
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wang
Wang 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
#282
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109,883
+42,313 bearers (+62.6%)
Per 100,000 37.25
Rank movement Up 156 places
2020
#151
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 169,987
+60,104 bearers (+54.7%)
Per 100,000 56.87
Rank movement Up 131 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #438 | 67,570 | 25.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #282 | 109,883 | 37.25 | +42,313 bearers (+62.6%) | Up 156 places |
| 2020 | #151 | 169,987 | 56.87 | +60,104 bearers (+54.7%) | Up 131 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 Wang 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 | #282 | #151 | 46.5% |
| Count | 109,883 | 169,987 | 54.7% |
| Per 100K | 37.25 | 56.87 | 52.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wang bearers went from 109,883 to 169,987 (+54.7% change). The surname moved up 131 positions in the national ranking, going from #282 to #151.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Wang
FAQ
Wang surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wang?
Name Census estimates that about 194,928 living Americans carry the surname Wang. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,758 residents.
How common is Wang?
Wang ranks #151 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Common." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 56.87 per 100,000 residents, which is about 57 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 169,987 people with the surname Wang. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (194,928), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 56.87 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 56.87 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 57 of them to have the surname Wang.
Has Wang become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wang went from 109,883 recorded bearers to 169,987. That is an increase of 60,104 (+54.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #282 to #151.
What does the Census say about the background of Wang?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wang, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.6%. The next largest groups are White (3.2%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). 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 Wang in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.6% (160,724 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wang appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (94.6%), White (3.2%), Two or More Races (1.4%). 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 Wang (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 Wang mean?
A Chinese surname meaning "king" or "monarch," originally referring to a person of royal lineage or regal bearing. 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 Wang (56.87 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 common is the surname Wang?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Wang on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.