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

Zhong, 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 Zhong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zhong in America

Zhong is the 6754th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zhong surname appeared 4,991 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Zhong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zhong 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 Zhong

The surname ZHONG originated in China, with its earliest recorded examples dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Linguists believe the name is derived from the Chinese word "zhong," which means "middle" or "center." This suggests that the name was likely given to families or individuals who lived in the central regions of China or played a central role in their communities.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the ZHONG surname gained prominence, with several notable figures emerging from this lineage. One such individual was Zhong Shao (1011-1077), a renowned scholar and official who served under Emperor Renzong. His works on Confucian philosophy and ethics were highly influential during this period.

In the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD), a famous military leader named Zhong Xing (1270-1328) rose to prominence. He played a crucial role in the conquest of the Song Dynasty and was later appointed as the Governor of Zhejiang Province.

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) also saw several notable individuals bearing the ZHONG surname. Zhong Chengrui (1515-1594) was a prominent scholar and writer who made significant contributions to the field of literature and philosophy.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), the ZHONG family produced several influential figures. One such individual was Zhong Kui (1768-1831), a renowned painter and calligrapher who was celebrated for his exceptional artistic talents.

Throughout history, the ZHONG surname has been associated with various place names and localities in China. For example, the city of Zhongxiang in Hubei Province is believed to have derived its name from the ZHONG surname, suggesting that the family had a significant presence in this region.

It is worth noting that while the ZHONG surname is widely recognized in China, its historical significance extends beyond the borders of the country. Records indicate that individuals with the ZHONG surname have made notable contributions in various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts, across different parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zhong

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

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

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

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