Find out how popular the last name Nguyễn is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Nguyễn.

Nguyễn, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Nguyễn surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Nguyễn in America

Nguyễn is the 127948th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nguyễn surname appeared 123 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Nguyễn.

The history of the last name Nguyễn

The surname HGUYEN finds its origins in Vietnam, specifically within the Vietnamese-speaking regions of the country. Historically, the name traces back to ancient Vietnamese times, though it has evolved over the centuries. One of the oldest Vietnamese languages, Old Vietnamese, has influenced many of the surnames that exist today, HGUYEN being one of them.

The surname HGUYEN is an interesting variant that appears to stem originally from the more common Vietnamese surname Nguyen, which has historical and royal ties. Nguyen is derived from the Sino-Vietnamese reading of the Chinese characters 阮, which signifies a particular string instrument. Over centuries, variations in spelling and pronunciation have occurred, leading to the development of surnames like HGUYEN.

Historical references to the surname in its HGUYEN form are scarce because it is less common than its parent surname Nguyen. While Nguyen appears extensively in records dating back to the early feudal periods of Vietnam, HGUYEN records are infrequent. Historical texts, such as ancient Vietnamese chronicles and royal decrees, mostly refer to the Nguyen surname.

The earliest recorded example of a similar surname might be traced back to a 13th-century Vietnamese manuscript where a noble family with connections to the Nguyen dynasty was mentioned. Despite the specifics, historical context suggests that surname modifications like HGUYEN might have occurred in the following centuries due to regional dialects or script changes.

Nguyen An (1381–1453) is one of the most renowned individuals historically linked with the Nguyen surname. Another is Nguyen Trai (1380–1442), a famed scholar and warrior who played a pivotal role in Vietnam's history. While directly tied to the name HGUYEN might not be found, these individuals showcase the historical depth and significance of the broader surname.

More recent centuries did witness some variations, especially as Vietnamese people migrated or adapted to different orthographic standards. In the 18th century, Nguyen Thanh Trung was known for his role in various uprisings that occurred in Vietnam. The early 20th century saw figures like Nguyen Sinh Sac, born in 1863, who was the father of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, further hinting at the extensive legacy etched by the Nguyễn lineage.

In the 19th century, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai (1910–1941) was a prominent revolutionary leader whose actions were noteworthy in the struggle against French colonial rule. Her contributions further cement the Nguyen family name, though again not directly referred to in the HGUYEN variant, share the deep historical roots associated with the Nguyen family.

More distant historical figures indicate the long-standing and prestigious existence of the Nguyen family, a lineage under which surname variants like HGUYEN may have gradually emerged through linguistic shifts. The HGUYEN surname today, though less common, still reflects the historical and cultural fabric inherent in Vietnamese heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nguyễn

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Nguyễn.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Nguyễn was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Nguyễn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nguyễn, please contact us.

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