Explore the Family Name Pi

The meaning of Pi

1. Catalan: topographic name from pi ‘pine tree’, or a habitational name from any of numerous places called with this word. 2. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 皮, meaning ‘fur, skin’ in Chinese: (i) from the last element of Fan Zhong Pi (樊仲皮), personal name of an official during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) borne by descendants of Zi Pi (子皮), an official in the state of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). 3. Chinese: alternative Mandarin form of the surname 畢, see Bi 1. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Esteban, Alberto, Alejandro, Aurelio, Carlos, Carlos Alberto, Eutimio, Mercedez, Ramon, Ramona, Santa, Zoraida. Chinese Chien, Chun, Sun, Chen, Chien-Kuo, Ching Ming, Dong, Hong, Jong, Ming Yuan, Shang.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Pi in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Pi has seen a significant upturn from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Pi was ranked as the 30,645th most common name but advanced by 19.2 percent to the 24,762nd spot in 2010. The count of people with this surname likewise increased from 718 in 2000 to 1,006 in 2010, marking a growth of 40.11 percent. Proportionally per 100,000 people, the occurrence of the surname Pi augmented from 0.27 in 2000 to 0.34 in 2010, reflecting an upward shift of 25.93 percent.

20002010Change
Rank#30,645#24,76219.2%
Count7181,00640.11%
Proportion per 100k0.270.3425.93%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pi

In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the surname Pi identify as Asian/Pacific Islander, constituting 64.48 percent in 2000 and slightly increasing to 64.61 percent in 2010. The second-largest group identifying with this surname were those of Hispanic ethnicity - though their percentage dipped from 20.61 percent in 2000 to 19.28 percent in 2010. The proportion of White individuals bearing this surname rose from 10.45 percent in 2000 to 11.93 percent in 2010. Those identifying as two or more races also saw a boost in their numbers, going up from 1.81 percent in 2000 to 2.09 percent in 2010. Black individuals with this surname, however, saw a decrease from 2.65 percent in 2000 to 2.09 percent in 2010. No changes were observed amongst American Indian and Alaskan Natives.

20002010Change
Asian/Pacific Islander64.48%64.61%0.2%
Hispanic20.61%19.28%-6.45%
White10.45%11.93%14.16%
Two or More Races1.81%2.09%15.47%
Black2.65%2.09%-21.13%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%