Explore the Family Name Zhai
The meaning of Zhai
Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 翟, originally denoting ‘pheasants’; also used to refer to certain minority ethnic groups in northern China. The surname can be traced back to the placename Zhai (翟, pronounced Di in ancient Chinese): (i) an ancient state located in Shanxi province. After it was annexed by the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC), the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) a fief (located in Henan province), granted to the second son of King Cheng of Zhou (reigned 1042–1021 BC).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zhai in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Zhai has markedly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Zhai was ranked 54,269th in the United States, but by 2010, it had jumped to the 29,334th position, signifying a rank change of approximately 46%. The count of people with the surname also saw a significant increase, going from 356 in 2000 to 806 in 2010, thereby registering a rise of over 126%. Consequently, the proportion of individuals named Zhai per 100,000 people more than doubled, increasing by almost 108%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #54,269 | #29,334 | 45.95% |
| Count | 356 | 806 | 126.4% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.27 | 107.69% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zhai
Turning our attention to ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the vast majority of individuals bearing the surname Zhai identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. This group represented 98.31% of all Zhais in 2000 and 96.77% in 2010, showing a slight decrease of 1.57%. There were no recorded instances of this surname amongst individuals identifying as two or more races, white, Hispanic, black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2000. However, by 2010, there were modest increases within the first two categories, with respective percentages of 1.24% and 1.49%. For the remaining three groups, the figures remained unchanged at zero.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 98.31% | 96.77% | -1.57% |
| White | 0% | 1.49% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.24% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |