Explore the Family Name Suo
The meaning of Suo
Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 索, meaning ‘thick rope or chain’ in Chinese: (i) borne by the descendants of the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). It is said to be from Suo (索), the name of an ancient state (possibly located in Henan province) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC), which was annexed during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). The Suo family was one of the six clans of the Shang dynasty that were sent to the state of Lu after the annihilation of the Shang dynasty. (ii) traced back to a minority ethnic group in ancient northern China.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Suo in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Suo has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 123,314 in terms of popularity, but by 2010, it had risen to rank 84,463 – a change of 31.51%. Additionally, the count of individuals with this surname also experienced a significant jump, going from 129 in 2000 to 222 in 2010, a growth of 72.09%. The proportion per 100,000 people also increased from 0.05 to 0.08 during this period, presenting an increase of 60%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #123,314 | #84,463 | 31.51% |
| Count | 129 | 222 | 72.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.05 | 0.08 | 60% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Suo
Regarding the ethnicity associated with the surname Suo, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that there were noticeable shifts between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the most common ethnic identity associated with Suo was relatively evenly split between Asian/Pacific Islander at 50.39% and White at 48.06%. By 2010, however, the percentage of Suo with an Asian/Pacific Islander identity rose to 63.06%, while those identifying as White decreased to 29.73%. Over the same decade, new identities began to emerge among those bearing the surname Suo, with 2.70% identifying with two or more races and 4.05% identifying as Hispanic. There were no reported changes for those identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 50.39% | 63.06% | 25.14% |
| White | 48.06% | 29.73% | -38.14% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 4.05% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.7% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |