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

Won, 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 Won surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Won in America

Won is the 7702nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Won surname appeared 4,309 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 Won.

We can also compare 2010 data for Won 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 Won

The surname Won originated in Korea and can be traced back several centuries. It is derived from the Korean word "won," which means "round" or "circular." The name was likely first adopted by someone who lived near a circular or rounded geographical feature, such as a hill or bend in a river.

In the 14th century, the Won surname appeared in historical records from the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 918 to 1392. It was a relatively uncommon name at the time, primarily found in rural areas of the Korean peninsula.

During the Joseon Dynasty, which spanned from 1392 to 1897, the Won surname gained more prominence. One notable figure was Won Hui (1628-1689), a renowned Confucian scholar and calligrapher. He is remembered for his influential writings on moral philosophy and his beautiful calligraphic works.

In the 18th century, the Won surname was recorded in the Hwango, a historical record of Korean family lineages. This suggests that by this time, the name had become well-established and recognized as a legitimate Korean surname.

Another famous individual with the Won surname was Won Sang-gye (1551-1613), a celebrated military leader and politician during the Joseon Dynasty. He played a crucial role in suppressing a major rebellion and was later appointed as the Minister of War.

In more recent history, Won Bong-gil (1899-1976) was a prominent Korean independence activist who fought against Japanese colonial rule in the early 20th century. He was imprisoned and tortured for his efforts but remained committed to the cause of Korean independence.

While the Won surname may not be as common as some other Korean surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by notable figures throughout the centuries. The name's origins can be traced back to the circular or rounded landscapes of ancient Korea, and it has endured as a distinctive and meaningful surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Won

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

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

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

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