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 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nguyễn in America

Nguyễn is the 96368th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nguyễn surname appeared 189 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 Nguyễn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nguyễn 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 Nguyễn

The surname Nguen originated in Vietnam and can be traced back to the 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Vietnamese word "nguyen," which means "primary" or "original." The name was prevalent in the northern regions of Vietnam, particularly in the provinces surrounding the capital city of Hanoi.

In ancient Vietnamese documents, such as the "Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu" (Complete Annals of Dai Viet), the name Nguen appears frequently, indicating its historical significance. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the late 15th century, when a scholar named Nguen Van Sieu served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

During the Ly Dynasty (1009-1225), several notable figures bore the surname Nguen. Among them was Nguen Trai (1380-1442), a renowned poet, strategist, and adviser to the emperor. His philosophical writings and military strategies played a crucial role in Vietnam's resistance against Chinese domination.

Another prominent individual with the surname Nguen was Nguyen Hue (1753-1792), also known as Emperor Quang Trung. He led a successful rebellion against the Tay Son brothers and became the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945.

In the 20th century, Nguen Van Thieu (1923-2001) served as the president of South Vietnam from 1967 to 1975, during the Vietnam War. His leadership and policies were instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the region during that tumultuous period.

The surname Nguen has also been associated with various place names in Vietnam. For instance, the province of Nguyen Binh, located in the southern part of the country, is believed to have derived its name from the Nguen family who once held significant influence in the area.

While the surname Nguen has its roots in Vietnam, it has also gained recognition globally due to the Vietnamese diaspora. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made significant contributions in various fields, ranging from literature and politics to military strategy and governance.

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 2010 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Nguyễn 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 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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