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

Wo, 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 Wo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wo in America

Wo is the 47791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wo surname appeared 443 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 Wo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wo 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 Wo

The surname Wo is relatively uncommon and has intriguing historical and etymological roots, primarily traced back to China. The Chinese character for Wo is traditionally written as 沃 (pinyin: Wò), which historically means "fertile" or "abundant." This suggests that the name could have originally been descriptive of the fertile lands certain families inhabited or farmed.

The surname appears prominently in ancient Chinese records, particularly during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). It was during this era that the Hundred Family Surnames text was compiled, listing Wo as one of the surnames in use. The geographical distribution of the surname can be linked to regions such as Shanxi and Henan provinces, which were considered populous and fertile territories.

A historical reference includes a notable figure, Wo Zimi, an official who served during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE). His governance in the Henan region was highly praised, and his name appears in various historical annals and local records, marking one of the earlier well-documented instances of the surname.

The Wo surname can also be associated with the Chinese poet Wo Zhengan, born in 1215 and who died in 1273. He left behind a collection of poems that provide insights into the socio-cultural aspects of his time. His work has been referenced in several anthologies of classical Chinese literature.

Migration patterns during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) also saw the spread of the Wo surname to coastal and southern provinces. This led to the surname being mentioned in local gazetteers and clan genealogies in regions like Fujian and Guangdong provinces. Many clan temples built during these periods contain inscriptions mentioning the Wo lineage.

One of the prominent figures in recent history is Wo Ruiqi, a Guomindang general born in 1903 and who died in 1988. His contributions during the Chinese Civil War were significant, and his strategic acumen was well regarded. Records of his military campaigns and personal history are preserved in various war memorials and archives.

Another historical figure is Wo Qingtan, a Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 CE) scholar born in 1467 and who died in 1535. His scholarly contributions, especially in Confucian philosophy, were substantial, and several educational institutions during his time recognized his academic leadership.

In the context of the surname's global dispersion, during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), the Wo surname reached other parts of Asia, including Southeast Asia through Chinese immigration.

By exploring historical texts, local records, and genealogies, the journey of the Wo surname over centuries illustrates its resilience and the significant contributions of individuals bearing this name within Chinese history. Whether through governance, literature, military service, or philosophy, the Wo surname has left a meaningful legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wo

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

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

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

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