Explore the Family Name Sao
The meaning of Sao
1. Cambodian: written សៅរ៍ or សៅ, from a Khmer word meaning ‘Saturday’. The surname សៅ also corresponds to the Khmer word meaning ‘pale, wan’. 2. Indian (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh): Hindi name of unexplained etymology, traditionally borne by oilseed pressers. Some characteristic forenames: Southeast Asian Khon, Sophal, Nang, Phan, Phon, Tho, Thon, Thy, Yen, Deng, Heang, Kheng, Meng, Roeun, Seng, Yan, Yon. Cambodian Savoeun, Chamroeun, Chheang, Chhom, Samoeun, Sophat, Yoeun, Chang, Ry, Savuth, Vang.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sao in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Sao has seen a considerable increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 21,113 amongst all surnames in the United States while by 2010, it had climbed to a rank of 18,529. This represents a rise of 12.24%. Correspondingly, the number of individuals bearing this name also expanded from 1,159 in 2000 to 1,489 in 2010, marking an impressive growth rate of 28.47%. Similarly, the proportion of the population with this surname per 100,000 people increased by 16.28% over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,113 | #18,529 | 12.24% |
| Count | 1,159 | 1,489 | 28.47% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.43 | 0.5 | 16.28% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sao
When considering the ethnic identity associated with the surname Sao, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there are some notable changes between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased slightly from 80.59% to 82.40%, suggesting this group has a strong connection with the surname. However, the proportion of individuals identifying as two or more races decreased significantly by 27.56%. The proportion of White individuals with the Sao surname dropped modestly by 11.60%, while the Hispanic representation saw a minor increase of 1.96%. Interestingly, the census reported no Black individuals with this surname in 2000, but by 2010 they made up 2.48% of the Sao population. There were no American Indian and Alaskan Native individuals recorded with this surname during both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 80.59% | 82.4% | 2.25% |
| Hispanic | 6.13% | 6.25% | 1.96% |
| Two or More Races | 7.51% | 5.44% | -27.56% |
| White | 3.88% | 3.43% | -11.6% |
| Black | 0% | 2.48% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |