Explore the Family Name Diao
The meaning of Diao
1. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 刁, meaning ‘trick’ in Chinese: (i) said to be adopted in place of the homophonous character Diao (雕), the name of a state during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (ii) from the second element of the personal name Shu Diao (豎刁), personal name of a famous official during the reign of the Duke Huan of Qi (ruler of the state of Qi, died 643 BC); or said to be borne by descendants of Diao Bo (貂勃, also written as 刁勃), an official and a hermit who lived in the state of Qi during the Warring States period (475–221 BC), who was said to be also a descendent of Shu Diao (豎刁).(iii) also adopted in place of other surnames by some minority ethnic groups from Southwestern China. 2. West African (Senegal and Burkina Faso): name of Fulani origin, which corresponds to Dia.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Diao in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Diao has significantly increased in the United States between 2000 and 2010. The ranking of this surname rose from the 95,567th most popular name in 2000 to the 52,383rd in 2010, marking a 45.19% increase. The count of individuals with the surname also more than doubled over this decade, escalating from 177 in 2000 to 396 in 2010, a growth rate of 123.73%. The proportion per 100,000 people also grew by 85.71%, aligning with the increased prevalence of the surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #95,567 | #52,383 | 45.19% |
| Count | 177 | 396 | 123.73% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.13 | 85.71% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Diao
The ethnicity associated with the Diao surname also shifted somewhat over the same decade, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, a majority of those with the Diao surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander at 77.97%, and though this remained the dominant ethnic identity in 2010, it dropped slightly to 76.01%. There was a notable decrease in those identifying as having two or more races, down 38.50% from 4.52% in 2000 to 2.78% in 2010. The proportion of individuals identifying as white or black saw increases, from no reported white individuals in 2000 to 3.54% in 2010, and from 15.82% identifying as black in 2000 to 16.92% in 2010. No individuals identified as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 77.97% | 76.01% | -2.51% |
| Black | 15.82% | 16.92% | 6.95% |
| White | 0% | 3.54% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 4.52% | 2.78% | -38.5% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |