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

Whang, 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 Whang surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whang in America

Whang is the 18253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whang surname appeared 1,522 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Whang.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whang 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 Whang

The surname Whang has its origins in China, with records suggesting it dates back to the ancient dynasties, around the 11th century BCE. It is derived from various Chinese roots, primarily related to the Chinese character 王, pronounced Wang or Whang, meaning "king" or "monarch." This surname was typically bestowed upon those who were of royal descent or held positions of significant authority and influence.

In ancient Chinese records such as the "Shiji" (Records of the Grand Historian) and the "Zuo Zhuan," there are numerous references to individuals bearing the surname Wang, which would have been romanized to Whang in some cases. These texts, dating back to the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), document the achievements and influences of families associated with the name. Wang Mang (45 BCE-23 CE), a prominent figure known for establishing the short-lived Xin dynasty, is one notable individual whose name aligns with the historical Whang lineage.

As history progressed, the surname Whang spread beyond mainland China, particularly to Korea during the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean rendering of Whang (황) signifies "yellow" or "emperor," suggesting a similar association with nobility. Historical Korean records from the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) document figures such as Hwang Hui (1363-1452), a renowned scholar and politician, who may trace his lineage back to the ancient Chinese Wang.

In Japan, the name Whang is less common but can be associated with the adaptation of Chinese immigrants who integrated into Japanese society. Historically, Japan adopted Chinese characters and culture, and surnames like Whang became assimilated and transformed within the Japanese context during the Nara (710-794) and Heian periods (794-1185).

Moving to more recent centuries, the surname Whang has been documented in various diaspora communities, particularly in the United States, due to immigration waves in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Individuals such as Whang Youn Dai, a notable figure in the Paralympic movement who was born in South Korea in 1932, have brought renown to the name through their contributions on the global stage.

Linguistically, the surname Whang has undergone various changes in spelling and pronunciation over centuries and across regions. Old spellings and romanizations reflect the phonetic interpretations of local languages, yet the essence of the surname—signifying nobility, leadership, and royal association—remains consistent.

Throughout history, the name Whang has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. Wang Zhenyi (1768-1797), an accomplished scientist and scholar during the Qing dynasty, represents the enduring legacy of the Whang surname in the realm of intellectual and academic achievement. These historical figures attest to the deep-rooted significance and widespread influence of the surname Whang throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whang

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

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

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

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