2000
#3,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 8,633
First available Census row
Per 100,000 3.20
Uncommon Last name
Chao
A Chinese surname meaning "surpass" or "transcend," or referring to someone from the ancient state of Chao.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 12,691 Americans carry the last name Chao. That puts it at #3,183 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.70 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 27,008 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chao surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Chao with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
13K
1 in 27,008
Census rank
#3,183
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
11K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 11,067 bearers of the surname Chao in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.70 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3183rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chao, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.7%) and Two or More Races (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chao
The surname CHAO is believed to have originated in China, tracing its roots back to the 16th century or earlier. It is derived from the Chinese word "zhao," which means "bright" or "shining." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to individuals who possessed a radiant or brilliant demeanor or appearance.
In ancient Chinese records, the name CHAO can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts, including the Ming Dynasty archives. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname CHAO dates back to the late 16th century, when a scholar named CHAO Yuanfang (1550-1624) gained recognition for his contributions to literature and philosophy.
During the Qing Dynasty, the CHAO surname gained prominence in the region of Guangdong, particularly in the city of Shantou. This area was known for its thriving maritime trade and cultural exchanges, which may have contributed to the spread and adoption of the name among local families.
Notable individuals bearing the CHAO surname throughout history include CHAO Yuen Ren (1892-1982), a renowned linguist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of the Chinese language and its dialects. Another prominent figure was CHAO Shu-li (1908-1975), a celebrated mathematician and physicist known for his work on the kinetic theory of gases and statistical mechanics.
In the realm of literature, CHAO Shao-an (1905-1998) was a prominent Chinese writer and poet whose works explored themes of love, nature, and social commentary. His poetic works and essays were widely celebrated and influential during the 20th century.
Beyond the borders of China, the CHAO surname has also been found in various parts of Southeast Asia, particularly in areas with strong cultural and historical ties to China. For instance, in Singapore, CHAO Tzee Cheng (1910-1993) was a respected businessman and philanthropist who played a pivotal role in the development of the city-state's education and social welfare systems.
While the CHAO surname has its roots in China, it has since spread across the globe, carried by individuals and families who have contributed to various fields, from academia and literature to business and philanthropy. The name continues to hold a rich heritage and cultural significance, reflecting the diverse histories and narratives that have shaped its journey.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chao
Among Census respondents with the surname Chao, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.7%) and Two or More Races (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Chao bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Chao surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander86.9% · 9,616
- Hispanic or Latino5.7% · 630
- Two or more races3.7% · 406
- White3.4% · 381
- Black or African American0.2% · 24
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 10
Timeline
Historical Census data for Chao
Chao appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#3,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 10,398
+1,765 bearers (+20.4%)
Per 100,000 3.52
Rank movement Up 337 places
2020
#3,183
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 11,067
+669 bearers (+6.4%)
Per 100,000 3.70
Rank movement Up 249 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #3,769 | 8,633 | 3.20 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #3,432 | 10,398 | 3.52 | +1,765 bearers (+20.4%) | Up 337 places |
| 2020 | #3,183 | 11,067 | 3.70 | +669 bearers (+6.4%) | Up 249 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Chao surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,432 | #3,183 | 7.3% |
| Count | 10,398 | 11,067 | 6.4% |
| Per 100K | 3.52 | 3.70 | 5.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Chao bearers went from 10,398 to 11,067 (+6.4% change). The surname moved up 249 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,432 to #3,183.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Chao
FAQ
Chao surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Chao?
Name Census estimates that about 12,691 living Americans carry the surname Chao. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 27,008 residents.
How common is Chao?
Chao ranks #3,183 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 3.70 per 100,000 residents, which is about 4 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 11,067 people with the surname Chao. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (12,691), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 3.7 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 3.70 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 4 of them to have the surname Chao.
Has Chao become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Chao went from 10,398 recorded bearers to 11,067. That is an increase of 669 (+6.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #3,432 to #3,183.
What does the Census say about the background of Chao?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chao, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.7%) and Two or More Races (3.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Chao in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.9% (9,616 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Chao appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (86.9%), Hispanic (5.7%), Two or More Races (3.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Chao (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Chao mean?
A Chinese surname meaning "surpass" or "transcend," or referring to someone from the ancient state of Chao. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Chao (3.70 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Chao?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the last name Chao at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.