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

Kyaw, 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 Kyaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kyaw in America

Kyaw is the 27950th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kyaw surname appeared 858 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kyaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kyaw to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kyaw

The surname "KYAW" is of Burmese origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient kingdoms of modern-day Myanmar. It originated as a regional variation of the word "kyaw," meaning "cultivator" or "farmer" in the Burmese language.

The name is believed to have first emerged during the Bagan period (11th-13th centuries CE), when agricultural communities flourished along the fertile banks of the Irrawaddy River. Early records from this era, inscribed on stone tablets and palm-leaf manuscripts, occasionally mention individuals bearing the surname "KYAW."

As the Bagan Empire expanded, the name spread to other regions of present-day Myanmar, particularly in the central and lower regions where rice cultivation was predominant. Over time, it became a common surname among farming families and those associated with agricultural pursuits.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the "Hmannan Yazawin" (Glass Palace Chronicle), a historical record compiled in the 18th century. The chronicle mentions a prominent figure named U Kyaw Thein (1578-1646), a chief minister during the reign of King Anaukpetlun.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Maha Kyaw Thi (1728-1799), a renowned Buddhist monk and scholar who authored several treatises on Buddhist philosophy and teachings. His works are still widely studied and revered in Myanmar today.

In the 19th century, the surname gained further recognition with Kyaw Htin (1832-1909), a celebrated writer and poet who played a crucial role in preserving Burmese literature and culture during the British colonial era.

During the 20th century, Kyaw Nyein (1920-1993) emerged as a prominent figure in the field of Burmese traditional medicine, authoring numerous books and contributing to the preservation of Myanmar's rich medical heritage.

More recently, Kyaw Kyaw Naing (born 1956) has made a name for himself as a renowned Burmese singer and composer, contributing significantly to the country's music scene and preserving traditional Burmese melodies.

While the surname "KYAW" has its origins in agriculture and rural communities, it has transcended these humble beginnings and is now found across various professions and social strata in Myanmar and among the Burmese diaspora worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kyaw

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kyaw 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kyaw has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Kyaw was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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