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

Zhi, 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 Zhi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zhi in America

Zhi is the 74608th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zhi surname appeared 259 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zhi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zhi 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 Zhi

The surname Zhi originates from China, with historical roots tracing back to ancient times. This surname can be found in records from the Han dynasty period (206 BCE – 220 CE), indicating its long-standing presence in Chinese history. The name Zhi is derived from the Chinese character 支, which has various meanings including "branch," "support," or "sustain." This multifaceted character underscores the potential for the surname to have been adopted by multiple family lines for different reasons related to these meanings.

Historical references to the surname Zhi can be seen in ancient texts and records such as the "Hundred Family Surnames" (百家姓), a classic Chinese text from the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE) that lists common surnames in China. The name Zhi appears intermittently in other historical documents, indicating its prevalence particularly in the central and southern regions of China. The character支 was also common in various ancient Chinese dialects, which further diversified its adoption as a surname.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zhi is tied to the prominent figure Zhi Yao, who lived during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). Zhi Yao was a military general from the state of Wei and is noted for his strategic prowess. Another eminent personality was Zhi Dun (314–366 CE), a revered Buddhist monk and philosopher during the Eastern Jin dynasty, whose contributions to Buddhist teachings have been well-documented in Chinese historical records.

In subsequent centuries, the surname Zhi continued to appear among notable figures. For instance, Zhi Shuwei (1080–1154 CE) was a well-known Song dynasty poet whose literary works added to China's rich tapestry of classical poetry. During the Ming dynasty, Zhi Qian (1378–1457 CE) served as an official, known for his administrative acumen and dedication to social reforms.

Moving into the Qing dynasty, Zhi Huaiyuan (1692–1758 CE) was another distinguished individual carrying the surname. He was recognized as a talented calligrapher and painter, contributing significantly to the cultural heritage of the era. Lastly, Zhi Guangdou (1760–1823 CE) was a respected scholar and historian, leaving behind several critical works that provide insight into Chinese historical narratives.

The surname Zhi thus has a rich and varied history, embedded deeply in Chinese cultural and historical contexts. Its bearers have contributed to various fields, from military and political life to literary and artistic achievements, confirming the enduring legacy and distinguished lineage associated with the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zhi

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

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

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

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