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

Wi, 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 Wi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wi in America

Wi is the 40610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wi surname appeared 538 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Wi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wi 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 Wi

The surname Wi is relatively rare and has its origins in East Asia, particularly in Korea and China. In Korean, Wi is represented by the Hanja character 魏, which also has roots in ancient China. The historical and geographical origins of the surname can be traced back to the Chinese state of Wei during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). The name Wei was derived from the river of the same name that flowed through the area where the state was located. When the state of Wei was conquered and its territory absorbed by other states, people bearing the surname Wei spread out across China. Some of these individuals eventually migrated to the Korean Peninsula, where the surname evolved into Wi.

In Korean history, Wi appears in many old records and scholars often speculate that the name may have first appeared during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE–668 CE). Historical manuscripts, such as the Samguk Sagi (an ancient text chronicling the history of Korea's Three Kingdoms), also mention individuals with the surname Wi. For example, Wi Bogam, a noted military commander and strategist, was mentioned in Korean records dating back to the 7th century. His military prowess was emblematic of the small but influential group of people bearing the surname during this period.

The surname Wi is also found in older spellings and romanizations such as 'Wei' and 'Weih'. Over the centuries, the pronunciation and spelling could have shifted due to regional dialects and transliterations from Hanja to Hangul (the Korean alphabet). As Korea adopted Hangul more widely in the 15th century following its creation by King Sejong the Great, this surname began to appear more commonly in records using its Hangul spelling, 위.

One of the earliest recorded examples of an individual with the surname Wi in Korea is Wi Hyeon (1602-1680), a respected Confucian scholar during the Joseon Dynasty. Wi Hyeon contributed significantly to the academic and cultural life of Korea at the time, authoring several significant texts. Another notable historical figure, Wi Gyeongseon (1796–1870), was a politician and reformer who played an important role during the late Joseon Dynasty. His efforts in governmental reform left a lasting impact on Korean administrative practices.

Although not as globally renowned as surnames like Kim or Lee, the name Wi is attached to notable figures who have left their mark within various realms of Korean history. Wi Deokhaeng (1805–1874) was another such individual, a poet whose literary works have survived and are still studied for their artistic value and historical insights. Additionally, Wi Seongjin (1879–1956), a prominent teacher and activist during the Japanese occupation of Korea, is remembered for his contributions to the Korean independence movement.

Overall, the surname Wi, while not widespread, carries a rich historical significance. Its origins from the ancient Chinese state of Wei to its adaptation and evolution in Korean history highlight the fascinating journey of this unique surname. These historical references firmly situate the surname Wi within the broader tapestry of East Asian history, reflecting a lineage of individuals who made significant cultural, military, and political contributions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wi

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

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

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

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