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

Wen, 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 Wen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wen in America

Wen is the 5878th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wen surname appeared 5,870 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 Wen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wen 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 Wen

The surname "WEN" is believed to have originated in China, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "wen," which means "literature" or "culture." The name was likely bestowed upon individuals who were scholars, writers, or had a deep appreciation for education and the arts.

In ancient China, the "WEN" surname was particularly prevalent in regions such as Shandong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, where literary and cultural pursuits were highly valued. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical texts and genealogical records from the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD).

One of the earliest known bearers of the "WEN" surname was Wen Zhong, a renowned calligrapher and scholar who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 AD). His works and teachings influenced generations of calligraphers and scholars, solidifying the association between the name and literary pursuits.

During the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD), the "WEN" surname gained further prominence with the emergence of Wen Tingyun, a celebrated poet and scholar. Born in 812 AD, Wen Tingyun's poetic works were widely celebrated and became a significant part of the literary canon of the time.

Another notable figure with the "WEN" surname was Wen Zhengming, a renowned painter, calligrapher, and scholar-official who lived during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Born in 1470, Wen Zhengming's masterful paintings and calligraphic works are still highly regarded and studied today.

In the realm of philosophy, the "WEN" surname is associated with Wen Zhenheng, a prominent Neo-Confucian scholar who lived during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912). Born in 1585, Wen Zhenheng's writings and teachings had a lasting impact on the philosophical discourse of his time.

The "WEN" surname also has historical connections to place names, such as Wencheng County in Shandong Province and Wenzhou City in Zhejiang Province. These place names are believed to have been derived from the surname, reflecting the presence and influence of families bearing the name in those regions.

While the "WEN" surname has a rich history and cultural significance in China, it is important to note that this report focuses solely on its use as a surname and does not include information about its use as a first or given name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wen

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

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

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

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