Syhavong
A surname of Laotian origin indicating someone from the village of Syhavong.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Syhavong. That puts it at #151,532 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Syhavong surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#151,532
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Syhavong in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151532nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Syhavong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.3%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Syhavong
The surname SYHAVONG is of Lao origin, originating from the Southeast Asian country of Laos. It is a combination of two Lao words, "sy" meaning "prosperity" and "havong" meaning "palace" or "royal residence". The name likely originated during the period of the Lane Xang Kingdom, which ruled over present-day Laos from the 14th to the 18th century.
SYHAVONG was probably a name given to individuals who served or lived in the royal palaces or residences of the Lane Xang kings. It may have been a title or honorific initially bestowed upon officials or nobles closely associated with the royal court. Over time, it became a hereditary surname passed down through generations.
The earliest known records of the SYHAVONG name can be traced back to the 16th century, during the reign of King Setthathirath, one of the most celebrated rulers of the Lane Xang Kingdom. Several royal chronicles and stone inscriptions from this era mention individuals with the SYHAVONG surname serving in various administrative and military roles within the kingdom.
One notable figure was Nang SYHAVONG, a princess and daughter of King Souligna Vongsa (1638-1694) who married a Siamese prince and played a significant role in fostering diplomatic relations between the two kingdoms. Another prominent SYHAVONG was Chao Noy SYHAVONG (1795-1869), a high-ranking official and governor of Vientiane during the turbulent period of Siamese and Vietnamese invasions in the early 19th century.
As the Lane Xang Kingdom declined and Laos came under increased foreign influence, the SYHAVONG name spread across various regions of the country. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several SYHAVONG individuals were noted for their involvement in the nationalist movements and efforts to preserve Lao culture and independence. Ong Kham SYHAVONG (1880-1961) was a respected scholar and author who wrote extensively on Lao history and literature, while Kham Ngon SYHAVONG (1901-1974) was a prominent leader in the Lao independence movement against French colonial rule.
Today, the SYHAVONG surname remains well-represented in Laos and among the Lao diaspora communities around the world, particularly in the United States, France, and other Western countries. While its origins can be traced back to the royal courts of the Lane Xang Kingdom, the name has since become more widely distributed across various social strata and regions within Laos.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Syhavong
Among Census respondents with the surname Syhavong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.3%.
The bar chart below shows how Syhavong bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Syhavong surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander96.3%
- Unknown or suppressed3.7%
FAQ
Syhavong surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Syhavong?
The surname Syhavong holds position #151,532 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Syhavong surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Syhavong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 96.3%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.