Find out how popular the last name Pham Nguyen is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Pham Nguyen.

Pham Nguyen, 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 Pham Nguyen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pham Nguyen in America

Pham Nguyen is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pham Nguyen surname appeared 112 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 Pham Nguyen.

The history of the last name Pham Nguyen

The surname PHAMNGUYEN is of Vietnamese origin, with roots dating back to the 15th century. It is a combination of two common Vietnamese surnames, PHAM and NGUYEN, which were often joined together to signify familial or clan ties.

The name PHAM has its origins in the ancient Chinese surname "Fan" or "Phan," which was later adopted and adapted by the Vietnamese people. It is believed to have been derived from the name of a village or region in northern Vietnam, where many families bearing this surname historically resided.

NGUYEN, on the other hand, is one of the most widespread surnames in Vietnam, with a rich and storied history. It is thought to have been derived from the Chinese word "Ruan," which means "soft" or "gentle." This surname was often associated with scholars, officials, and educated classes in Vietnam's past.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the combined surname PHAMNGUYEN can be found in the "Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu," a historical text that chronicles the events of the Lý Dynasty in Vietnam, which ruled from 1009 to 1225 CE. In this text, there are references to individuals bearing the surname PHAMNGUYEN serving in various official capacities.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as Vietnam underwent periods of conflict and upheaval, the surname PHAMNGUYEN became more prevalent, particularly in the northern and central regions of the country. Notable figures from this time include Pham Nguyen Xuan (1555-1635), a celebrated poet and scholar, and Pham Nguyen Huu Tien (1620-1688), a military leader and strategist who played a pivotal role in the resistance against the Trịnh lords.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure bearing the surname PHAMNGUYEN was Pham Nguyen Huy (1810-1875), a renowned Vietnamese scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of Confucianism and Vietnamese literature.

As Vietnam entered the modern era, the surname PHAMNGUYEN continued to be represented in various spheres of society. Pham Nguyen Du (1892-1959) was a celebrated poet and writer, best known for his epic poem "The Tale of Kieu," considered a masterpiece of Vietnamese literature. Pham Nguyen An (1905-1975) was a prominent politician and diplomat who served as the first Ambassador of South Vietnam to the United States in the 1960s.

Throughout its long history, the surname PHAMNGUYEN has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of Vietnam. While its origins can be traced back to ancient times, this surname continues to be a prominent part of Vietnamese heritage and identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pham Nguyen

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Pham Nguyen.

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 Pham Nguyen 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 Pham Nguyen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Pham Nguyen, please contact us.

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