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

Nanthavong, 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 Nanthavong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nanthavong in America

Nanthavong is the 99845th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nanthavong surname appeared 181 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 Nanthavong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nanthavong 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 Nanthavong

The surname NANTHAVONG originates from Laos and is believed to have emerged during the 14th century. It is derived from the Lao language and is thought to be a combination of two words: "nan" meaning "field" or "land," and "thavong" meaning "gold" or "precious." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who owned or worked on valuable agricultural lands or were involved in activities related to gold or precious metals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NANTHAVONG surname can be found in a collection of historical manuscripts from the Lan Xang Kingdom, which ruled over present-day Laos and parts of neighboring regions from the 14th to the 18th century. These manuscripts mention several individuals with the NANTHAVONG surname, suggesting that the name had already established itself as a recognizable family name during this period.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Chao Nanthavong was recorded as a high-ranking official and advisor to King Setthathirath, the ruler of the Lan Xang Kingdom from 1548 to 1571. Chao Nanthavong played a significant role in the kingdom's governance and diplomacy, further solidifying the name's historical importance.

During the 17th century, another notable individual named Thao Nanthavong was a respected Buddhist monk and scholar who contributed to the preservation and promotion of Lao literature and culture. His works and teachings were widely influential during his lifetime and continue to be studied and revered in Laos today.

In the 19th century, a wealthy landowner and philanthropist named Khampheng Nanthavong was known for his generous support of local communities and religious institutions. He funded the construction of several temples and schools, leaving a lasting legacy in the regions where he lived and worked.

Another prominent figure bearing the NANTHAVONG surname was Khamla Nanthavong, a prominent political leader and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Laos from 1975 to 1986. He played a crucial role in shaping the country's post-independence policies and international relations during a challenging period in Lao history.

While the NANTHAVONG surname is most commonly found in Laos, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Lao people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nanthavong

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

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

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

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