Explore the Family Name Paek
The meaning of Paek
Korean: there is only one Chinese character for this surname. Although some sources indicate that there are 157 different clans of the Paek family, modern research has shown them all to have derived from a single clan, the Suwŏn Paek. The clan’s founding ancestor was named Paek U-kyŏng; he migrated to Korea from China in 780. Compare Baek, Baik, and Paik. Some characteristic forenames: Korean Sung, Sang, Young, Yong, Hyung, Seung, Won, Byong, Chae, Hyun, Jong, Jung, Chong, Nam, Byung, Chang, Min, Pong, Chong Nam, Chong Su, Dae, Dong Hyun, Hyum, Hyung Jin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Paek in the United States?
According to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Paek" has seen a significant increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 18,607th most popular name, but by 2010, it had risen to the 15,183rd spot, marking an increase of 18.4%. Additionally, the number of individuals with the "Paek" surname also grew by approximately 42% during this period, moving from 1,366 to 1,940. This expansion is further reflected in the proportional representation per 100,000 people, which increased by nearly 30% from 0.51 to 0.66.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,607 | #15,183 | 18.4% |
| Count | 1,366 | 1,940 | 42.02% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.51 | 0.66 | 29.41% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Paek
Regarding ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the "Paek" surname identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. However, there was a decrease of about 10% in this group from 2000 to 2010, dropping from 87.19% to 78.81%. Interestingly, the proportion of individuals identifying as White has nearly doubled during this period, increasing from 9% to 16.65%. There's a new occurrence of the surname among the Black community in 2010, while the Hispanic representation disappeared. The percentages for those identifying as two or more races slightly decreased, and there were no recorded instances of American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 87.19% | 78.81% | -9.61% |
| White | 9% | 16.65% | 85% |
| Two or More Races | 2.49% | 2.22% | -10.84% |
| Black | 0% | 1.6% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0.66% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |