Explore the Family Name Ah
The meaning of Ah
Chinese: from the vocative prefix 阿 or 亞, used before Chinese personal names (mainly monosyllabic personal names) and kinship terms, particularly in central and southern China. History: Among early Chinese immigrants in the US, Chinese names prefixed by Ah were widely recorded in the US federal censuses. Ah appears to have been adopted as a new surname by some of the descendants of those early Chinese immigrants.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ah in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname 'Ah' has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past decade. In 2000, 'Ah' was ranked as the 147,095th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had jumped to 119,508th place – a change of 18.75%. The actual count of individuals with the surname 'Ah' also soared during these years, from 103 in 2000 to 145 in 2010, marking an impressive 40.78% surge. Consequently, the proportion of 'Ah' per 100,000 people saw a 25% rise.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #147,095 | #119,508 | 18.75% |
| Count | 103 | 145 | 40.78% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.04 | 0.05 | 25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ah
The Decennial U.S. Census data on ethnicity shows that 'Ah' is primarily associated with Asian/Pacific Islander heritage. This group represented 63.11% of the 'Ah' surname holders in 2000 and increased to 80% in 2010, indicating a 26.76% growth. Although the surname was associated with individuals of White ethnicity and those identifying with two or more races in 2000 (19.42% and 8.74% respectively), the latter category diminished entirely by 2010. Meanwhile, the percentage of White individuals decreased by 25.44%. The surname 'Ah' was not connected with Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 63.11% | 80% | 26.76% |
| White | 19.42% | 14.48% | -25.44% |
| Two or More Races | 8.74% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |