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 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nguyễn surname appeared 131 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 Nyguen originates from Vietnam and is thought to have emerged in the 14th century during the Later Ly dynasty. It is derived from the Vietnamese words "ngu" meaning five and "nguyen" meaning source or origin, suggesting a connection to the five cardinal directions or elements. The name likely originated in the northern regions of Vietnam, where many Vietnamese surnames trace their roots.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nyguen can be found in the Annals of Dai Viet, a historical text compiled in the 15th century under the reign of the Le dynasty. This work documents various individuals with the surname, indicating its widespread use at the time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Nyguen Trai (1380-1442) gained prominence as a revered poet, scholar, and military strategist. His writings and contributions to the defense of Vietnam against Chinese invasion solidified his place in Vietnamese history.

Another distinguished individual with the surname Nyguen was Nyguen Hue (1753-1792), a renowned general and statesman who played a pivotal role in the Tay Son rebellion against the ruling Nguyen lords in the late 18th century.

During the 19th century, Nyguen Truong To (1828-1871) emerged as a prominent leader of the Southern resistance movement against French colonialism in Vietnam. His efforts and sacrifices in the struggle for independence earned him a revered place in Vietnamese history.

In more recent times, the name Nyguen has been carried by several influential figures, including Nyguen Tan Dung (born 1949), who served as the Prime Minister of Vietnam from 2006 to 2016, and Nyguen Phu Trong (born 1944), the current General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

While the surname Nyguen is widely recognized in Vietnam, its global presence has also been notable, particularly in Vietnamese diaspora communities around the world, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of this name.

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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