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 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nguyễn surname appeared 142 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 Nyugen has its origins in Vietnam, where it is among the most common family names. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, likely between the 10th and 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Vietnamese word "nguyen," which means "origin" or "source."

Nyugen is considered a surname of nobility and was often associated with members of the Vietnamese royal family and aristocracy. Some historical records suggest that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who held high-ranking positions within the imperial court or those who had distinguished themselves through exceptional service to the monarchy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nyugen can be found in the Annals of Dai Viet, a historical text that chronicles the history of Vietnam from the 12th to the 17th century. This text mentions several individuals bearing the surname Nyugen who held prominent positions within the imperial administration during various dynasties.

Notable historical figures with the surname Nyugen include Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), a renowned poet, philosopher, and military strategist who played a significant role in the Lam Son Uprising against the Ming Dynasty. Another prominent figure was Nguyen Hue (1753-1792), a military leader who led the Tay Son Rebellion and briefly ruled as Emperor of Vietnam under the name Quang Trung.

In the 15th century, the name Nyugen gained further prominence when the Nguyen Lords, a powerful clan, established their rule over the southern region of Vietnam. This dynasty, known as the Nguyen Lords of Nghe An, ruled from 1558 to 1776 and played a crucial role in shaping the history and cultural landscape of the region.

Other notable individuals with the surname Nyugen include Nguyen Du (1765-1820), a celebrated Vietnamese poet and literary figure who is best known for his epic poem "The Tale of Kieu." Nguyen Ai Quoc, also known as Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969), was a prominent revolutionary leader and the first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

While the surname Nyugen is most commonly associated with Vietnam, it has also been adopted in other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical roots and significance remain deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage and turbulent history of Vietnam.

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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