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 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nguyễn surname appeared 115 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.

The history of the last name Nguyễn

The surname NTUYEN is believed to have originated in Vietnam during the 10th century. It is derived from the Vietnamese word "Nguyen," which means "primary" or "principal." The name is thought to have been given to individuals who held important positions or roles within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NTUYEN surname dates back to the 11th century, where it was mentioned in the "Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu," a historical text that chronicled the events and people of the Dai Viet Kingdom (modern-day Vietnam). The text refers to several individuals with the surname NTUYEN who held influential positions within the royal court and government.

During the 13th century, the NTUYEN surname gained prominence as several members of the Tran Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1225 to 1400, bore this name. Notable figures from this period include Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), a renowned Buddhist monk and emperor who played a significant role in Vietnam's cultural and religious development.

As the centuries progressed, the NTUYEN surname continued to be associated with prominent individuals and families in Vietnam. In the 18th century, Nguyen Hue, also known as Emperor Quang Trung (1753-1792), led a successful rebellion against the Tay Son Dynasty and established the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam until the early 20th century.

Beyond Vietnam, the NTUYEN surname has also been found in other parts of Southeast Asia, particularly in areas with significant Vietnamese communities or historical ties to Vietnam. One notable figure with this surname was Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), a Vietnamese philosopher, poet, and military strategist who played a crucial role in the resistance against Chinese occupation.

Other notable individuals with the NTUYEN surname include Nguyen Du (1765-1820), a celebrated Vietnamese poet and scholar who wrote the epic poem "The Tale of Kieu," and Nguyen Van Vinh (1882-1936), a Vietnamese nationalist and activist who fought for Vietnam's independence from French colonial rule.

It is important to note that while the NTUYEN surname has a rich history and has been associated with many influential figures throughout the centuries, it remains a common surname in Vietnam and among Vietnamese communities around the world.

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.

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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