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

Minh, 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 Minh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Minh in America

Minh is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Minh surname appeared 163 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 Minh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Minh 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 Minh

The surname MINH is of Vietnamese origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Vietnamese word "minh," which means "bright" or "brilliant," and was often used to describe individuals who were considered intelligent or wise.

During the reign of the Ly Dynasty (1009-1225), which was a golden age for Vietnamese culture and literature, the MINH surname was commonly associated with scholars and learned individuals. Many historical records from this period mention individuals bearing the MINH surname, suggesting that it held a sense of prestige and respect within Vietnamese society.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MINH surname can be found in the "Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu" (Complete Annals of Dai Viet), a historical text compiled during the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400). This work mentions several notable figures with the MINH surname, including Minh Trieu (1243-1314), a renowned military strategist and advisor to the Tran emperors.

In the 15th century, during the Le Dynasty (1428-1789), the MINH surname gained further prominence. Minh Mang (1791-1841), one of the most influential emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), was known for his extensive reforms and promotion of Confucian values. His reign saw a resurgence of interest in Vietnamese literature and culture, further solidifying the MINH surname's association with intellectual pursuits.

Throughout Vietnamese history, the MINH surname has been borne by numerous scholars, writers, and poets. Minh Mang (1612-1661), a celebrated poet and calligrapher during the Le Dynasty, is considered one of the most influential figures in Vietnamese literature. Another notable figure is Minh Vien (1834-1887), a renowned scholar and philosopher who played a crucial role in reviving Confucian thought in Vietnam during the 19th century.

In more recent times, the MINH surname has continued to be associated with intellectual and artistic endeavors. Minh Duc (1915-2003), a celebrated Vietnamese painter and sculptor, was instrumental in the development of modern Vietnamese art. Minh Phu (1921-2010), a renowned writer and poet, made significant contributions to Vietnamese literature with his poignant works exploring themes of love, patriotism, and the human condition.

While the MINH surname has its roots in Vietnam, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance and association with intelligence, wisdom, and cultural achievements remain deeply ingrained in its Vietnamese heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Minh

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

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

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

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