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

Nguyen, 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 Nguyen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nguyen in America

Nguyen is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nguyen surname appeared 127 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 Nguyen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nguyen 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 Nguyen

The surname NAUYEN is believed to have originated from Vietnam, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Vietnamese word "nguyen," which means "origin" or "source." This suggests that individuals with this surname may have been associated with a particular location or community that served as the starting point or origin of their lineage.

In the historical records of Vietnam, the name NAUYEN can be found in various government documents and local records from the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the "Nguyen Dynasty Records," which documented the reign of the Nguyen Lords and the Nguyen Dynasty that ruled Vietnam from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname NAUYEN was Nguyen Huu Canh, a prominent scholar and official who lived during the 16th century. Nguyen Huu Canh was known for his contributions to Vietnamese literature and his service in the court of the Nguyen Lords.

Another notable figure with the surname NAUYEN was Nguyen Huu Thi, a military leader and strategist who played a significant role in the resistance against the French colonization of Vietnam in the late 19th century. Nguyen Huu Thi was born in 1834 and was known for his leadership in the Can Vuong movement.

During the 20th century, the surname NAUYEN gained prominence with individuals such as Nguyen Tat Thanh, better known as Ho Chi Minh, the revolutionary leader and founding president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh, born in 1890, was a pivotal figure in Vietnam's struggle for independence and the establishment of a unified Vietnamese state.

Another influential figure with the surname NAUYEN was Nguyen Cao Ky, a former prime minister and air force officer who played a significant role in the Vietnam War. Nguyen Cao Ky was born in 1930 and served as the prime minister of South Vietnam from 1965 to 1967.

In more recent times, the surname NAUYEN has been associated with notable individuals such as Nguyen Thi Binh, a prominent Vietnamese politician and diplomat who played a crucial role in the Paris Peace Accords that ended the Vietnam War. Nguyen Thi Binh was born in 1927 and received the Lenin Peace Prize in 1968 for her efforts in advocating for peace and national independence.

While the surname NAUYEN has its origins in Vietnam, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and cultural roots of this surname remain firmly rooted in the rich tapestry of Vietnamese history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nguyen

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

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

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

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