Yang
A Chinese surname referring to the sun, light, or positive energy.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123,220 Americans carry the last name Yang. That puts it at #290 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 35.95 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,782 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yang surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
123K
1 in 2,782
Census rank
#290
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
36.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106K
common in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106,033 bearers of the surname Yang in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 35.95 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 290th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yang, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.5%) and White (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yang
The surname YANG is of Chinese origin and has been in use for centuries. It is derived from the Chinese word "yang," which means "sun" or "masculine." This is likely a reference to the concept of yin and yang, the principles of duality that are central to Chinese philosophy and culture.
The earliest known record of the YANG surname dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it was found in historical records and literature of the time. During this period, the YANG surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Henan and Shandong provinces.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the YANG surname was Yang Guang (569-619 AD), an emperor of the Sui Dynasty who reigned from 604 to 618 AD. He was known for his ambitious construction projects, including the expansion of the Grand Canal and the rebuilding of the Great Wall.
Another prominent figure from history was Yang Zongbao (1735-1801), a Qing Dynasty scholar and poet who was renowned for his translations of Western literature and his contributions to the field of phonology.
In the 13th century, Marco Polo, the famous Venetian explorer, mentioned the YANG surname in his travel writings, indicating that the name was well-established in China at that time.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the YANG surname was associated with several influential families, including the Yangs of Huai'an, who were known for their cultural and scholarly achievements.
One of the most famous individuals with the YANG surname was Yang Liwei (born in 1965), a former Chinese astronaut and the first person from China to travel into space. He piloted the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft in 2003, ushering in a new era of Chinese space exploration.
Throughout history, the YANG surname has been found in various parts of China, with concentrations in regions like Hebei, Shaanxi, and Jiangsu provinces. It has also been adopted by ethnic Chinese communities around the world, reflecting the widespread diaspora of Chinese people over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yang
Among Census respondents with the surname Yang, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.5%) and White (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Yang bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Yang surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander96.8%
- Two or more races1.5%
- White1.0%
- Hispanic or Latino0.5%
- Black or African American0.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Yang surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #397 | #290 | 27.0% |
| Count | 72,627 | 106,033 | 46.0% |
| Per 100K | 26.92 | 35.95 | 33.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Yang bearers went from 72,627 to 106,033 (+46.0% change). The surname moved up 107 positions in the national ranking, going from #397 to #290.
FAQ
Yang surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Yang?
The surname Yang holds position #290 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 123,220 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 35.95 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Yang surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yang, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.5%) and White (1.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.