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 80419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nguyễn surname appeared 236 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 Nguyen originated in Vietnam and has its roots dating back to ancient times. It is believed to have been derived from the old Vietnamese word "Rong" or "Rồng," which translates to "dragon" and was often used as a symbol of power and strength.

In the early days of Vietnam's history, surnames were not widely used among the common people. It was primarily the nobility and ruling class who adopted surnames as a way to distinguish themselves from the masses. The Nguyen surname was initially associated with the royal family and those closely connected to the imperial court.

As Vietnam's history unfolded, the Nguyen surname gained prominence during the reign of the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945. The dynasty was founded by Nguyen Anh, who ascended to the throne as Emperor Gia Long. Many of his descendants and those loyal to the dynasty adopted the Nguyen surname, leading to its widespread use across the country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nguyen surname can be found in the "Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu," a historical text compiled during the Ly Dynasty (1009-1225). This text mentions several individuals bearing the Nguyen surname, suggesting its existence in the early centuries of Vietnam's documented history.

Throughout the centuries, several notable figures have carried the Nguyen surname. One of the most famous was Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), a renowned poet, philosopher, and politician who served as a mandarin during the Le Dynasty. Another prominent figure was Nguyen Du (1766-1820), widely regarded as one of Vietnam's greatest poets and the author of the epic poem "The Tale of Kieu."

Other notable individuals with the Nguyen surname include Nguyen Hue (1753-1792), a military leader and emperor who led the Tay Son rebellion against the Nguyen Dynasty, and Nguyen Tat Thanh (1890-1969), better known as Ho Chi Minh, the revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in Vietnam's struggle for independence from French colonial rule.

In modern times, the Nguyen surname remains one of the most common in Vietnam, reflecting its deep historical roots and the widespread adoption during the Nguyen Dynasty's reign. It is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and the enduring legacy of Vietnam's ancient past.

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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