2000
#6,765
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,592
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.70
Uncommon Last name
Yao
A Chinese surname derived from the name of an ancient state or referring to a kiln or pottery maker.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 12,479 Americans carry the last name Yao. That puts it at #3,235 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.64 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 27,466 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yao 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Yao with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
12K
1 in 27,466
Census rank
#3,235
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
11K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 10,882 bearers of the surname Yao in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.64 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3235th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yao, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Black (3.6%) and White (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yao
The surname Yao has its origins in China, where it can be traced back to ancient times. It is believed to have derived from the Chinese word "yao," which means "lofty" or "elevated." The surname was initially associated with people living in mountainous regions or those who held high positions in society.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Yao surname dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), where it was mentioned in historical texts and official records. During this period, the name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Shaanxi, Henan, and Shandong provinces.
In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Yao surname gained prominence, and several notable figures bearing this name emerged. One such individual was Yao Shu (1201-1278), a renowned scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the Neo-Confucian movement.
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) saw the rise of Yao Guang (1337-1418), a prominent military leader and statesman who played a crucial role in the founding of the Ming Dynasty. His exploits and achievements were well documented in historical accounts.
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), the Yao surname continued to flourish, with several influential figures leaving their mark. Yao Xueyin (1610-1696) was a prominent scholar and writer who authored several influential works on literature and philosophy.
Another notable figure from this period was Yao Ying (1853-1900), a high-ranking official and military leader who played a pivotal role in the Boxer Rebellion. His bravery and leadership during this tumultuous time were widely praised.
In more recent history, the Yao surname has continued to produce notable individuals across various fields. Yao Ming (born 1980) is a former professional basketball player who gained international recognition for his exceptional talent and accomplishments in the NBA.
It is worth noting that the Yao surname has also been associated with various place names throughout China's history. For example, Yaoxian County in Shaanxi Province and Yaocun Village in Shandong Province bear the name, indicating the presence of Yao families in these regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yao
Among Census respondents with the surname Yao, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Black (3.6%) and White (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Yao 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 Yao surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander90.7% · 9,865
- Black or African American3.6% · 395
- White2.9% · 315
- Two or more races2.2% · 235
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 70
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Yao
Yao appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#4,898
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 7,192
+2,600 bearers (+56.6%)
Per 100,000 2.44
Rank movement Up 1,867 places
2020
#3,235
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 10,882
+3,690 bearers (+51.3%)
Per 100,000 3.64
Rank movement Up 1,663 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #6,765 | 4,592 | 1.70 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #4,898 | 7,192 | 2.44 | +2,600 bearers (+56.6%) | Up 1,867 places |
| 2020 | #3,235 | 10,882 | 3.64 | +3,690 bearers (+51.3%) | Up 1,663 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 Yao 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 | #4,898 | #3,235 | 34.0% |
| Count | 7,192 | 10,882 | 51.3% |
| Per 100K | 2.44 | 3.64 | 49.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Yao bearers went from 7,192 to 10,882 (+51.3% change). The surname moved up 1,663 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,898 to #3,235.
FAQ
Yao surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Yao?
Name Census estimates that about 12,479 living Americans carry the surname Yao. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 27,466 residents.
How common is Yao?
Yao ranks #3,235 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 3.64 per 100,000 residents, which is about 4 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 10,882 people with the surname Yao. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (12,479), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 3.64 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 3.64 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 4 of them to have the surname Yao.
Has Yao become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Yao went from 7,192 recorded bearers to 10,882. That is an increase of 3,690 (+51.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #4,898 to #3,235.
What does the Census say about the background of Yao?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yao, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Black (3.6%) and White (2.9%). 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 Yao in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.7% (9,865 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Yao appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (90.7%), Black (3.6%), White (2.9%). 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 Yao (2000, 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 Yao mean?
A Chinese surname derived from the name of an ancient state or referring to a kiln or pottery maker. 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 Yao (3.64 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 people have the last name Yao?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Yao on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.