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

Wung, 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 Wung surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wung in America

Wung is the 93513th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wung surname appeared 196 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 Wung.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wung 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 Wung

The surname Wung is believed to originate from East Asia, specifically China. The exact time period of its origin is difficult to pinpoint, but it is generally accepted that surnames in China have been in use for over a thousand years. Wung could potentially derive from old Chinese characters, and it bears similarities to the Chinese surname Wang, which is one of the most common and historically significant surnames in China. Some phonetic variations may also be traced back to the Cantonese and Hokkien dialects, where the pronunciation and transliteration of characters can alter slightly.

In historical records, the surname Wung does not appear as commonly as some other Chinese surnames. However, early references can be found in genealogical books and local annals from regions like Guangdong and Fujian provinces. It is possible that the name was recorded in various local documents, including municipal records and trade logs, reflecting the movement and settlement patterns of Chinese families through different dynastic periods.

One early recorded instance of the surname Wung can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) when a merchant named Wung Liang was noted in maritime trade records for his involvement in the bustling port activities of Quanzhou, a city recognized for its robust trade with Southeast Asia and beyond. His contributions to local economy were significant enough to be documented in regional historical texts.

Another notable figure was Wung Zhi, a renowned scholar during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). Wung Zhi was born in 1783 and achieved high honors in the Imperial Examination system, allowing him to serve as a local magistrate. His essays and poetry were well-regarded in his time and some of his works were compiled into anthologies that were preserved in Qing imperial libraries.

The surname also appears in the context of the Chinese diaspora in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wung Chan, born in 1852, immigrated to the United States amid the wave of Chinese laborers who came to work on the transcontinental railroad. His experiences were documented in personal letters now archived in the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley. These letters offer a glimpse into the struggles and contributions of Chinese immigrants in the American West.

In more recent history, Wung Mei Ling was a prominent figure from Hong Kong, known for her political activism during the mid-20th century. She was active in advocating for social reforms and women's rights during the 1950s and 1960s, making significant impacts through her writings in local newspapers and public speeches.

Lastly, Wung Tse-Tung, born in 1931, was a notable scientist in Taiwan. His work in the field of material science and engineering earned him several national awards, and he was instrumental in developing technologies that advanced Taiwan's semiconductor industry in the 1980s.

The surname Wung, through various historical records, illustrates a legacy of scholarship, trade, activism, and scientific achievement, reflecting the diverse contributions of individuals with this name across different centuries and fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wung

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

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

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

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