Phothirath last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Phothirath

A Thai surname derived from the Sanskrit words for "light" and "king".

Phothirath, 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 Phothirath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phothirath in America

Phothirath is the 90853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phothirath surname appeared 203 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 Phothirath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Phothirath 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 90853 102173 -11.73%
Count 203 163 21.86%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.06 15.38%

The history of the last name Phothirath

The surname PHOTHIRATH is of Lao origin, tracing its roots back to the Lao people who have inhabited the region of modern-day Laos for centuries. The name is believed to have evolved from an ancient Lao word or phrase, potentially related to a specific location, occupation, or distinguishing characteristic.

In the early centuries of Lao civilization, surnames were not as widely adopted or recorded as they are today. It was not until the 16th century that the practice of using hereditary family names became more widespread among the Lao population. During this period, many surnames like PHOTHIRATH emerged and were passed down through generations.

One of the earliest known references to the PHOTHIRATH name can be found in historical records dating back to the 17th century. These records, which were often kept by Buddhist monasteries or local officials, documented various administrative matters, land transactions, and notable events within Lao communities.

While specific details about the origin and meaning of PHOTHIRATH remain elusive, there are a few notable individuals who have carried this name throughout history. One such individual was Thao Phothirath, a respected Lao scholar and diplomat who lived in the late 18th century. He played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and fostering diplomatic relations between the Lao Kingdom and neighboring regions.

Another notable figure was Boun Oum Phothirath, a revered Buddhist monk who lived during the 19th century. He was renowned for his spiritual teachings and his contributions to preserving Lao cultural traditions. His writings and teachings had a significant impact on the practice of Buddhism in Laos.

In the 20th century, Khampha Phothirath gained recognition as a prominent Lao politician and leader. He served as the Prime Minister of Laos from 1975 to 1976, during a period of significant political and social change in the country.

The PHOTHIRATH surname has also been associated with several respected scholars and academics. One such individual was Bounkhong Phothirath, a renowned linguist and historian who dedicated his life to the study and preservation of the Lao language and cultural heritage.

While the exact origins and meanings of many ancient Lao surnames may remain shrouded in mystery, the PHOTHIRATH name continues to hold significance and represents a connection to the rich cultural heritage of the Lao people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phothirath

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

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 Phothirath was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 91.13% 185
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 7.39% 15
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Phothirath has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White (S)% (S)% (S)%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 91.13% 91.41% -0.31%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 7.39% 7.98% -7.68%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Phothirath last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/phothirath-surname-popularity/.

"Phothirath last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/phothirath-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Phothirath last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/phothirath-surname-popularity/.

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