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

Phetsomphou, 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 Phetsomphou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phetsomphou in America

Phetsomphou is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phetsomphou surname appeared 194 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 Phetsomphou.

We can also compare 2010 data for Phetsomphou 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 Phetsomphou

The surname "PHETSOMPHOU" is of Laotian origin and dates back several centuries. It is believed to have originated in the central and northern regions of modern-day Laos, particularly in the areas surrounding the historic city of Luang Prabang. The name itself is derived from a combination of the Lao words "phet," meaning "diamond" or "gem," and "somphou," meaning "wealth" or "prosperity."

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a 17th century royal chronicle from the Kingdom of Lan Xang, which mentions a high-ranking official named Phetsomphou Singhalath who served under King Sourigna Vongsa in the late 1600s. This suggests that the name was already well-established among the Lao nobility during that time period.

In the 18th century, a famous Buddhist monk named Phetsomphou Thammavongsa played a significant role in the preservation and promotion of Lao culture and religious traditions. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of the Dharma and his contributions to the restoration of several important temples in the region.

During the 19th century, the Phetsomphou surname can be traced back to the village of Ban Phetsomphou, located in the present-day Luang Prabang Province. This village was likely named after a prominent family or individual bearing the name, further reinforcing its historical significance in the area.

One notable figure from the early 20th century was Phetsomphou Khampheng, a prominent Lao politician and diplomat who served as the ambassador to France during the French colonial period. He played a crucial role in negotiating the terms of Laos's eventual independence from French rule in the 1950s.

Another individual of note was Phetsomphou Sihavong, a celebrated Lao artist and sculptor who lived from 1920 to 2002. His works, which often depicted scenes from Lao folklore and Buddhist teachings, are considered among the finest examples of traditional Lao art and can be found in museums and galleries throughout the country.

While the Phetsomphou surname is most commonly associated with Laos, it has also been adopted by individuals of Lao descent living in neighboring countries such as Thailand and Cambodia, as well as in diaspora communities around the world. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the Lao people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phetsomphou

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

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

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

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