Explore the Family Name Shang
The meaning of Shang
Chinese: 1. Mandarin form of the surname 商: (i) from Shang (商), the name of a dynasty in Chinese history (1600–1046 BC). In 1600 BC, Cheng Tang defeated the last king of Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC) and established the Shang dynasty. Until 1046 BC, the regime was overthrown by King Wu of Zhou (c.1087–1043 BC) and the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) was founded. Some descendants of the royal family in the Shang dynasty then adopted 商 as their surname. (ii) from the placename Shang (商), the name of a fief (located in Xichuan in Henan province) that was granted to Shang Yang (商鞅), a famous official in the state of Qin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from the personal name of Shang Rong (商容), an official who lived during the reign of Zhou, the last king of the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). 2. Mandarin form of the surname 尚, meaning ‘esteem’ in Chinese: (i) from Shang (尚), personal name of Jiang Shang (姜尚) or Shang Fu (尚父), known as Jiang Ziya or Jiang Tai Gong (c.11th century bc), a revered official during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC), and also the ancestor of the kings of the state of Qi (located in present-day Shandong province). He helped King Wu of Zhou (c.1087–1043 BC) overthrow the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC) and made great contributions to the establishment of the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). Some of his descendants inherited 尚, his personal name, as their surname. (ii) from the personal name of Shang Kegu (尚可孤), who was from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). 3. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 上, meaning ‘above’ or ‘up’ in Chinese: said to be traced back to Shang Zhideng (上之登), a carriage driver in the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). Some characteristic forenames: Chinese Yi, Ding, Fu, Guihua, Hua, Jian, Jianguo, Jin, Jing, Kung, Ping, Sung, Hai, Quan.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Shang in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Shang has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Shang was ranked at 30,552 in terms of popularity but rose to 23,532 by 2010. This represents a percentage increase of nearly 23%. The count of individuals with the surname also saw an impressive surge by almost 50%, growing from 721 in 2000 to 1,079 in 2010. Consequently, the proportion of people named Shang per 100,000 increased by 37.04% over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,552 | #23,532 | 22.98% |
| Count | 721 | 1,079 | 49.65% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.27 | 0.37 | 37.04% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Shang
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that the majority of individuals with the surname Shang identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. In 2000, 88.49% identified as such, and this figure rose slightly to 91.20% by 2010. There was no change in the proportion of Shangs identifying with two or more races, remaining static at 1.39% over the decade. Interestingly, the number of Shangs identifying as White decreased by over 33%, while those identifying as Black saw a rise of 17.47%. Notably, there were no individuals with the surname Shang who identified as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 88.49% | 91.2% | 3.06% |
| White | 7.63% | 5.1% | -33.16% |
| Black | 1.66% | 1.95% | 17.47% |
| Two or More Races | 1.39% | 1.39% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0.83% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |