2010
#105,600
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 169
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.06
Very Rare Last name
Xiu
A surname of Chinese origin meaning "rest" or "relax."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 325 Americans carry the last name Xiu. That puts it at #73,776 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.09 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,054,629 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Xiu surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
325
1 in 1,054,629
Census rank
#73,776
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
283
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 283 bearers of the surname Xiu in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 73776th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Xiu, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.7%) and White (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Xiu
The surname Xiu originates from China and dates back to ancient times, specifically around the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). This surname is predominantly found in the southeastern regions of China, particularly in provinces like Guangdong and Fujian. The name is derived from the Chinese character 秀, which means "elegant," "outstanding," or "to excel." The character is often associated with positive traits such as intelligence and beauty, making it a desirable surname.
The surname Xiu is relatively rare and does not appear frequently in historical records or manuscripts. However, it has been documented in various genealogical books and local histories, especially those compiled during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties. The name has appeared in ancient Chinese census records known as the Jiapu, which were detailed family histories used to maintain clan records.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Xiu can be traced back to a scholar named Xiu Sheng, who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Xiu Sheng was renowned for his literary talents and served as an official in the imperial court. Another notable figure with this surname is Xiu Jing, a physician during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) who made significant contributions to traditional Chinese medicine.
In the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD), Xiu Liang was a military officer known for his strategic acumen and bravery in battle. His contributions to the defense of the empire were documented in various military records of the time. Another significant person bearing the surname Xiu was Xiu Yan, a poet during the Ming Dynasty, whose works were celebrated for their lyrical beauty and depth.
During the Qing Dynasty, Xiu Ren emerged as a prominent calligrapher whose works were highly esteemed and sought after. His calligraphy was featured in many prominent collections and played a significant role in preserving traditional Chinese art forms. His lifetime spanned from 1694 to 1763, marking him as one of the well-documented figures in the annals of Chinese cultural history.
These historical figures highlight the diverse contributions of individuals with the surname Xiu across various fields such as literature, medicine, military, poetry, and calligraphy. Despite its relative rarity, the surname Xiu has left a lasting mark on Chinese history and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Xiu
Among Census respondents with the surname Xiu, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.7%) and White (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Xiu bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Xiu surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander89.4% · 253
- Hispanic or Latino6.7% · 19
- White3.5% · 10
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Xiu
Xiu appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#73,776
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 283
+114 bearers (+67.5%)
Per 100,000 0.09
Rank movement Up 31,824 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #105,600 | 169 | 0.06 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #73,776 | 283 | 0.09 | +114 bearers (+67.5%) | Up 31,824 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Xiu surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #105,600 | #73,776 | 30.1% |
| Count | 169 | 283 | 67.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.09 | 57.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Xiu bearers went from 169 to 283 (+67.5% change). The surname moved up 31,824 positions in the national ranking, going from #105,600 to #73,776.
FAQ
Xiu surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Xiu?
Name Census estimates that about 325 living Americans carry the surname Xiu. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,054,629 residents.
How common is Xiu?
Xiu ranks #73,776 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.09 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 283 people with the surname Xiu. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (325), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.09 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.09 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Xiu.
Has Xiu become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Xiu went from 169 recorded bearers to 283. That is an increase of 114 (+67.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #105,600 to #73,776.
What does the Census say about the background of Xiu?
Among Census respondents with the surname Xiu, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.7%) and White (3.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Xiu in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.4% (253 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Xiu appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (89.4%), Hispanic (6.7%), White (3.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Xiu (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Xiu mean?
A surname of Chinese origin meaning "rest" or "relax." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Xiu (0.09 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Xiu?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.