2010
#159,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Sayasith
A Thai surname potentially derived from a name meaning "victory."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122 Americans carry the last name Sayasith. That puts it at #152,339 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sayasith surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
122
1 in 2,809,462
Census rank
#152,339
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Sayasith in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152339th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sayasith, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.8%) and White (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sayasith
The surname SAYASITH is of Thai origin, tracing its roots back to the ancient Siamese kingdoms of the 13th century. The name is believed to derive from the Thai words "saya" meaning "teacher" and "sith" meaning "virtuous" or "ethical". This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a revered instructor or scholar.
One of the earliest known mentions of the SAYASITH name can be found in a 14th-century Buddhist scripture, where it is listed as the surname of a respected monk. This historical reference lends credence to the theory of the name's association with teaching and moral uprightness.
In the 16th century, the SAYASITH clan is recorded as having settled in the region around the city of Ayutthaya, which was then the capital of the Siamese kingdom. This area is known for its rich cultural heritage and was home to many influential families during that time.
Notable individuals bearing the SAYASITH surname include Phra Sayasith (1567-1638), a renowned Buddhist scholar and author of several religious texts. His works were widely studied and helped shape the spiritual landscape of Siam during his lifetime.
Another prominent figure was Luang Sayasith (1789-1852), a high-ranking government official and diplomat who played a crucial role in negotiating treaties with western powers in the 19th century. His diplomatic skills helped preserve Siamese sovereignty during a period of increased foreign influence in the region.
In the field of literature, Khun Sayasith (1842-1912) was a celebrated poet and playwright whose works were instrumental in preserving and promoting the Thai language and cultural traditions. His plays were widely performed and praised for their artistry and social commentary.
The SAYASITH name also has ties to the military, with General Sayasith Sirisombat (1901-1979) being a prominent figure in the 20th century. He served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and played a pivotal role in several important military campaigns and operations.
Lastly, Sayasith Maneesri (1932-2005) was a renowned artist and sculptor whose works were exhibited internationally and are held in collections around the world. His sculptures often drew inspiration from Thai mythology and cultural traditions, reflecting the deep roots of the SAYASITH name in the country's heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sayasith
Among Census respondents with the surname Sayasith, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.8%) and White (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Sayasith bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sayasith surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander92.5% · 98
- Two or more races3.8% · 4
- White1.9% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Sayasith
Sayasith appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#152,339
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
+5 bearers (+5.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 7,373 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #159,712 | 101 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #152,339 | 106 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+5.0%) | Up 7,373 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Sayasith surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #159,712 | #152,339 | 4.6% |
| Count | 101 | 106 | 5.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 18.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Sayasith bearers went from 101 to 106 (+5.0% change). The surname moved up 7,373 positions in the national ranking, going from #159,712 to #152,339.
FAQ
Sayasith surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Sayasith?
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the surname Sayasith. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,809,462 residents.
How common is Sayasith?
Sayasith ranks #152,339 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 106 people with the surname Sayasith. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (122), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Sayasith.
Has Sayasith become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Sayasith went from 101 recorded bearers to 106. That is an increase of 5 (+5.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #159,712 to #152,339.
What does the Census say about the background of Sayasith?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sayasith, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.8%) and White (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Sayasith in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.5% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Sayasith appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (92.5%), Two or More Races (3.8%), White (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Sayasith (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Sayasith mean?
A Thai surname potentially derived from a name meaning "victory." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Sayasith (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Sayasith?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.