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

Xiao, 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 Xiao surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Xiao in America

Xiao is the 5669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Xiao surname appeared 6,123 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Xiao.

We can also compare 2010 data for Xiao 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 Xiao

The surname "XIAO" is of Chinese origin, tracing its roots back to ancient times in the region that is now modern-day China. This name has a rich history and cultural significance within the Chinese language and traditions.

Xiao is derived from the Chinese character "肖," which means "to resemble" or "to be similar to." It was originally used as a descriptive term to indicate someone's physical resemblance to an ancestor or a revered figure. Over time, this descriptive term evolved into a surname adopted by families.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Xiao can be found in the historical text "Shiji" (Records of the Grand Historian), written by the esteemed historian Sima Qian during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). This text mentions individuals with the surname Xiao who held prominent positions in the imperial court.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), a notable figure named Xiao Ye (608-680 AD) served as a high-ranking official and poet. His literary works and contributions to the arts have left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.

In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Xiao family from Zhejiang province rose to prominence. One of their descendants, Xiao Buzhi (1137-1203 AD), was a renowned philosopher and scholar who made significant contributions to the development of Neo-Confucianism.

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) saw the emergence of Xiao Xian (1484-1566 AD), a respected scholar and calligrapher whose works are still celebrated today for their artistic merit and philosophical depth.

In more recent history, the Xiao surname has been associated with several influential figures, including Xiao Qian (1910-1999), a pioneering journalist and writer who played a crucial role in shaping modern Chinese literature.

While the surname Xiao has its origins in ancient China, it has since spread and taken root in various regions around the world, including Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe, as a result of migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Xiao

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

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

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

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