Explore the Family Name Shou
The meaning of Shou
Chinese: 1. Mandarin form of the surname 壽, meaning ‘longevity’ in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by the descendants of Peng Zu, a legendary long-lived figure (said to have lived over 800 years) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (ii) said to be borne by descendants of Shou Meng (壽夢, 620–561 BC), king of the state of Wu. 2. Mandarin form of the surname 首, meaning ‘head’ in ancient Chinese: (i) possibly from the first element of the placenames Shou Yang (首陽) (possibly located in present-day Gansu province) or Shou Zhi (首止) (located in present-day Henan province). (ii) said to be a surname from Indian immigrants to China in ancient times. 3. variant Romanization of the surname 蕭 (or 肖), see Xiao.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Shou in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Shou has seen a significant increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked at 80,216 out of all surnames in the United States, but by 2010, it had risen to 70,833, an increase of 11.7%. In terms of actual counts, there were 220 people with the surname Shou in 2000 which increased to 276 individuals in 2010, marking a 25.45% increase. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100,000 also showed an increase, rising from 0.08 to 0.09, a change of 12.5%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #80,216 | #70,833 | 11.7% |
| Count | 220 | 276 | 25.45% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.08 | 0.09 | 12.5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Shou
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of individuals with the surname Shou identify as Asian or Pacific Islander. In 2000, this group represented approximately 88.64% of those with the surname, and by 2010, this figure had increased to 93.12%, a rise of 5.05%. The percentage of individuals identifying as White saw a decrease, moving from 9.09% in 2000 to 5.80% in 2010, a reduction of 36.19%. No individuals with this surname identified as Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 88.64% | 93.12% | 5.05% |
| White | 9.09% | 5.8% | -36.19% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |