Explore the Family Name Ao
The meaning of Ao
Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 敖, meaning both ‘rambling’ and ‘deposed king without posthumous titles’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the personal name of Tai Ao (太敖), teacher of the legendary king Zhuanxu (traditional dates: 2514–2437 BC). (ii) it is said that the surname is also borne by descendants of deposed kings of the former state of Chu, with no posthumous titles, during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ao in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Ao has seen a considerable rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 58397 but by 2010 its rank had improved to 41501, signifying a change of approximately 28.93%. The count of individuals with the Ao surname also increased from 325 in 2000 to 524 in 2010, marking an impressive growth rate of 61.23%. This resulted in the proportion of people named Ao per 100k increasing by 50%, from 0.12 to 0.18.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #58,397 | #41,501 | 28.93% |
| Count | 325 | 524 | 61.23% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.12 | 0.18 | 50% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ao
Discussing the ethnic identity associated with the surname Ao, data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that most individuals with this surname identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. This demographic experienced a growth of 4.36% from 90.15% in 2000 to 94.08% in 2010. While there was a small percentage (1.85%) who identified as Hispanic in 2000, this increased slightly to 2.10% in 2010. The proportion identifying as White declined significantly during this decade, dropping by approximately 58.67% from 6.46% to 2.67%. The data shows no individuals identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native. Interestingly, there was a new identification in 2010, where 0.95% recognized themselves as belonging to two or more races.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 90.15% | 94.08% | 4.36% |
| White | 6.46% | 2.67% | -58.67% |
| Hispanic | 1.85% | 2.1% | 13.51% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0.95% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |