2000
#120,330
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 133
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Yoong
A surname of Chinese origin, meaning "everlasting" or "eternal."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Yoong. That puts it at #147,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,636,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yoong 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
130
1 in 2,636,572
Census rank
#147,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
113
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 113 bearers of the surname Yoong in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yoong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 79.6%. The next largest groups are White (15.0%) and Black (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yoong
The surname Yoong is believed to have its origins in East Asia, with strong ties to Chinese and Malaysian cultures. The name Yoong is most likely derived from the Chinese name Yang, pronounced as "Yang" or "Yong," which translates to "poplar," a type of tree, or "light" and "sun." The name has roots that trace back to ancient China, particularly during the Zhou dynasty around the 11th century BC. Throughout history, variations of the name have appeared in Mandarin, Cantonese, and other regional dialects in China.
The Yoong surname is thought to have migrated to Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, during the Chinese diaspora, which occurred during the periods of economic and social upheaval in China, such as the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) and the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Historical records in Malaysia show the presence of Chinese immigrants, and many Chinese Malaysians adopted local pronunciations and spellings of their surnames, leading to the variation "Yoong."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Yoong in Malaysia dates back to the late 19th century, in colonial records mentioning a merchant named Yoong Choon. Yoong Choon was known for his contributions to the local economy and community in Penang. Another historical figure bearing the surname is Yoong Swee. Born in 1901, Yoong Swee was a prominent rubber plantation owner and philanthropist in the state of Perak during the early 20th century. His contributions to healthcare and education helped shape the local society.
In China, the name Yang (Yoong) appears frequently in ancient texts and documents. One noteworthy individual is Yang Jian, born in 541 AD, who later became Emperor Wen of the Sui dynasty. He played a critical role in unifying China after the prolonged period of division during the Northern and Southern dynasties. Although his surname is more commonly spelled as Yang, variations like Yoong emerged as the name spread and evolved.
Other notable individuals with the surname Yoong include Alex Yoong, born in 1976, a Malaysian race car driver who prominently competed in Formula One. His career highlights brought significant recognition to the surname in international motor sports. Another individual is Yoong Pak, a Taiwanese scholar and writer in the mid-20th century who contributed extensive research in the field of linguistics and traditional Chinese poetry. Born in 1925, Yoong Pak's works are still referenced in academic circles.
A further historical mention is Yoong Toh, a Chinese-Malaysian politician active in the early 20th century. He was involved in the establishment of policies that supported the integration of Chinese communities in Malaysia while preserving their cultural heritage. His influence extended to the educational reforms that benefited many Chinese Malaysian students.
Throughout its history, the surname Yoong demonstrates a rich cultural tapestry weaving through Chinese and Southeast Asian histories. Originating as Yang or Yong, the name has adapted to different linguistic and cultural environments, resulting in the unique and recognizable surname Yoong. Its bearers have contributed significantly to various fields, ensuring that the name continues to hold historical relevance across generations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yoong
Among Census respondents with the surname Yoong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 79.6%. The next largest groups are White (15.0%) and Black (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Yoong 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 Yoong surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander79.6% · 90
- White15.0% · 17
- Black or African American3.5% · 4
- Two or more races1.8% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Yoong
Yoong 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
#147,253
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
-21 bearers (-15.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 26,923 places
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
+1 bearers (+0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 32 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #120,330 | 133 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #147,253 | 112 | 0.04 | -21 bearers (-15.8%) | Down 26,923 places |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | +1 bearers (+0.9%) | Up 32 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 Yoong 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 | #147,253 | #147,221 | 0.0% |
| Count | 112 | 113 | 0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -5.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Yoong bearers went from 112 to 113 (+0.9% change). The surname moved up 32 positions in the national ranking, going from #147,253 to #147,221.
FAQ
Yoong surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Yoong?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Yoong. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Yoong?
Yoong ranks #147,221 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 113 people with the surname Yoong. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (130), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Yoong.
Has Yoong become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Yoong went from 112 recorded bearers to 113. That is an increase of 1 (+0.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #147,253 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Yoong?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yoong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 79.6%. The next largest groups are White (15.0%) and Black (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 Yoong in the 2020 Census, accounting for 79.6% (90 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Yoong appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (79.6%), White (15.0%), Black (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 Yoong (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 Yoong mean?
A surname of Chinese origin, meaning "everlasting" or "eternal." 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 Yoong (0.04 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 Yoong?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.