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

Pho, 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 Pho surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pho in America

Pho is the 20057th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pho surname appeared 1,333 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 Pho.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pho 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 Pho

The surname "PHO" is believed to have originated in Vietnam, with its roots dating back to the 18th century or earlier. It is thought to be derived from the Vietnamese word "pho," which means "noodle soup" or "rice noodles." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with a family or individual involved in the preparation or selling of this iconic Vietnamese dish.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "PHO" can be found in the historical records of the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. These records mention a prominent merchant family with the surname "PHO" who were known for their successful noodle soup business in the capital city of Hue.

In the late 19th century, a notable figure named Pho Quang Tri (1845-1912) gained recognition as a revered scholar and philosopher. His writings and teachings greatly influenced the intellectual and cultural landscape of Vietnam during that era.

During the French colonial period in Vietnam, which lasted from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, the name "PHO" appeared in various administrative records and documents. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname played a role in the social and economic fabric of the country under French rule.

Another prominent individual with the surname "PHO" was Pho Duc Chinh (1918-1976), a celebrated Vietnamese artist renowned for his intricate lacquer paintings and contributions to the development of modern Vietnamese art.

In the 20th century, Pho Binh Anh (1923-2006) made a significant impact as a writer and journalist. He wrote numerous novels, short stories, and articles that explored the complexities of Vietnamese society and culture during the turbulent times of war and political upheaval.

It is important to note that while the surname "PHO" has deep roots in Vietnam, it has also been adopted by individuals of Vietnamese descent living in other parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Vietnamese diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pho

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

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

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

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