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

Phung, 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 Phung surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phung in America

Phung is the 4915th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phung surname appeared 7,155 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Phung.

We can also compare 2010 data for Phung 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 Phung

The surname PHUNG is of Vietnamese origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient Vietnamese kingdom of Champa, which existed from the 2nd to the 19th century in what is now central and southern Vietnam. The name is believed to have derived from the Cham language, which was spoken by the Cham people, an ethnic group native to the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PHUNG can be found in the Cham inscriptions dating back to the 7th century CE. These inscriptions, carved in stone, were discovered in various archaeological sites throughout the former Champa territory. Although the exact meaning of the name is unclear, it is speculated to have been associated with a particular clan or lineage within the Cham society.

During the period of Chinese dominance in Vietnam, which lasted from 111 BCE to 939 CE, the name PHUNG was also found in Chinese historical records documenting the interactions between the Han Chinese and the Cham people. These records provide valuable insights into the cultural exchanges and conflicts between the two civilizations.

The name PHUNG gained further prominence during the reign of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the last imperial dynasty of Vietnam. Several notable figures with the surname PHUNG emerged during this period, including:

1. Phung Khac Khoan (1528-1613), a revered Confucian scholar and high-ranking mandarin during the Le Dynasty.
2. Phung Khac Can (1776-1835), a renowned poet and calligrapher who served as a high-ranking official in the early years of the Nguyen Dynasty.
3. Phung Khac Hoan (1828-1914), a prominent military leader and strategist who played a crucial role in the defense of Vietnam against French colonial forces.

In more recent history, the name PHUNG has been associated with several influential individuals:

4. Phung Chi Kien (1915-1995), a Vietnamese journalist and writer known for his pioneering work in the field of children's literature.
5. Phung Xuan Nha (1912-1963), a celebrated Vietnamese poet and playwright whose works have been widely studied and acclaimed for their artistic merit.

While the surname PHUNG has its roots in ancient Vietnam, it has since spread across the globe due to migration and diasporic communities. Nonetheless, the name remains deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage and history of Vietnam, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Cham people and their contributions to the region's cultural tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phung

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

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

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

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