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

Wong, 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 Wong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wong in America

Wong is the 274th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wong surname appeared 111,371 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 38 people would have the surname Wong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wong 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 Wong

The surname Wong has its origins in China, where it can be traced back to the 6th century. It is derived from the Cantonese word "wong," which means "king" or "yellow." The name was initially used to denote a person's status or physical appearance.

In ancient Chinese records, the name Wong appears in various forms, such as Huang, Hwang, and Wung. These variations were due to the different dialects and regional pronunciations across China. The name was particularly prevalent in the southern provinces of Guangdong and Fujian.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name Wong can be found in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) records. During this period, a scholar named Wong Xuan (685-762 AD) gained recognition for his contributions to Confucian philosophy and literature.

As the Chinese empire expanded and trade routes developed, the Wong surname spread to other parts of Asia. In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Wong Hung (1441-1499) became a successful merchant and established trade connections between China and Southeast Asia.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the name Wong was also associated with several notable military leaders. Wong Cheng (1522-1590) was a renowned general who played a crucial role in suppressing rebellions and defending the empire's borders.

As Chinese immigration increased in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Wong surname became more widespread globally. One of the earliest recorded Wongs in the United States was Wong Aloy (1829-1904), a merchant who settled in San Francisco and helped establish the first Chinese community in the city.

In modern times, the Wong surname has been associated with various influential figures across different fields. Some notable examples include:

1. Wong Kar-wai (born 1958), a renowned Hong Kong film director known for his visually stunning films like "In the Mood for Love" and "Chungking Express."
2. Wong Shun Leung (1936-1997), a famous Hong Kong martial artist and actor who starred in numerous kung fu movies.
3. Wong Jing (born 1958), a prolific Hong Kong film producer, director, and screenwriter known for his comedic and action films.
4. Wong Fei Hung (1847-1924), a famous Chinese martial artist and physician who became a folk hero and inspired numerous films and TV series.
5. Wong Kim Ark (1873-1925), a Chinese-American cook whose legal case, United States v. Wong Kim Ark, established the principle of birthright citizenship in the United States.

While the surname Wong has its roots in China, it has now become a global name, representing the rich cultural heritage and contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wong

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

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

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

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