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

Phanthavong, 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 Phanthavong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phanthavong in America

Phanthavong is the 45804th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phanthavong surname appeared 466 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 Phanthavong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Phanthavong 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 Phanthavong

The surname Phanthavong has its origins in Laos, a country located in Southeast Asia. It is a Lao name that can be traced back several centuries. The name is believed to be derived from the Lao words "phan," meaning celestial being or angel, and "thavong," meaning gold or precious metal.

Historically, the Phanthavong name was associated with the nobility and upper classes of Lao society. It is thought that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were particularly revered or held in high esteem, perhaps for their wisdom, virtue, or accomplishments.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Phanthavong name can be found in the ancient Lao chronicles known as the "Nithan Khun Borom," which date back to the 14th century. These chronicles mention a prominent figure named Phanthavong Phanya, who served as a high-ranking official during the reign of King Fa Ngum, the founder of the Lan Xang Kingdom.

Another notable figure with the Phanthavong name was Phanthavong Phounsavath, a revered Buddhist monk who lived in the late 18th century. He was renowned for his spiritual teachings and his contributions to the preservation of Lao cultural traditions.

During the 19th century, the Phanthavong name was associated with several influential families in the Kingdom of Luang Prabang, one of the former principalities of Laos. One such family was headed by Phanthavong Khamla, a prominent noble and landowner who held significant political influence in the region.

In more recent times, Phanthavong Souksavanh, born in 1927, was a distinguished Lao diplomat and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Laos from 1975 to 1976, during a period of significant political turmoil in the country.

Another notable figure with the Phanthavong surname was Phanthavong Sengdara, a celebrated Lao writer and novelist who lived from 1928 to 2002. His works explored themes of tradition, modernity, and the challenges faced by Lao society during the 20th century.

While the Phanthavong name has its roots in Laos, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance remains deeply rooted in the cultural and social fabric of Lao society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phanthavong

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

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

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

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