Thammavong last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Thammavong

A Thai surname meaning "golden Dharma".

Thammavong, 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 Thammavong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thammavong in America

Thammavong is the 32236th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thammavong surname appeared 715 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 Thammavong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thammavong 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 32236 35797 -10.47%
Count 715 593 18.65%
Proportion per 100k 0.24 0.22 8.70%

The history of the last name Thammavong

The surname THAMMAVONG is of Lao origin, tracing its roots back to the Lao people of Southeast Asia. It likely emerged during the height of the Lan Xang Kingdom, which ruled over present-day Laos from the 14th to the 18th century.

The name THAMMAVONG is derived from the Lao words "thamma" meaning "dharma" or Buddhist teachings, and "vong" which can be translated as "lineage" or "family." This suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon a family or clan closely associated with Buddhist traditions or teachings.

One of the earliest known references to the name THAMMAVONG can be found in the Lao Royal Chronicles, a collection of historical manuscripts documenting the reigns of various Lao kings and important events in the kingdom's history. Several individuals with the surname THAMMAVONG are mentioned in these chronicles, though exact dates and details are often scarce.

Notable individuals bearing the THAMMAVONG surname include Phrachao Thammavong (c. 1480-1550), a prominent Buddhist monk and scholar during the reign of King Photisarath of Lan Xang. Thammavong is credited with translating and preserving numerous Buddhist texts and scriptures, playing a vital role in the dissemination of Buddhist teachings throughout the region.

Another prominent figure was Nang Thammavong (c. 1620-1690), a Lao noblewoman and advisor to King Sourigna Vongsa. She was renowned for her wisdom and played a crucial role in mediating conflicts and fostering diplomacy with neighboring kingdoms.

In more recent history, Khamphao Thammavong (1894-1976) was a Lao politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Laos from 1942 to 1945, during the turbulent years of World War II and the transition to independence from French colonial rule.

Other notable individuals include Khamtay Thammavong (1915-1998), a celebrated Lao painter and artist known for his vibrant depictions of Lao culture and landscapes, and Bounmy Thammavong (1939-2021), a respected Lao writer and literary scholar whose works explored themes of identity, tradition, and modernity in Lao society.

While the surname THAMMAVONG is predominantly found in Laos, it has also spread to neighboring countries such as Thailand and Cambodia due to migration and cultural exchange. The name continues to carry a strong connection to the Lao culture, Buddhist traditions, and the rich heritage of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thammavong

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

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 Thammavong was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 0.70% 5
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 92.59% 662
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 4.34% 31
Hispanic Origin 2.24% 16

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 0.70% (S)% (S)%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 92.59% 93.59% -1.07%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 4.34% 5.40% -21.77%
Hispanic 2.24% (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 Thammavong was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Thammavong last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 3, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/thammavong-surname-popularity/.

"Thammavong last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/thammavong-surname-popularity/. Accessed 3 December, 2024

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

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