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

Thanh, 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 Thanh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thanh in America

Thanh is the 69579th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thanh surname appeared 282 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 Thanh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thanh 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 Thanh

The surname THANH has its origins in Vietnam, with the earliest records of the name dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Vietnamese word "Thanh," which means "green" or "fresh," referring to the lush, verdant landscapes of the country.

During the reign of the Le Dynasty (1428-1788), many Vietnamese families adopted surnames based on their occupations, locations, or distinguishing characteristics. The surname THANH may have been associated with individuals residing in or near areas known for their greenery, such as forests or fertile agricultural regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname THANH can be found in the annals of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). Nguyen Thanh Ton (1829-1889), a renowned military leader and strategist, played a pivotal role in the defense of Vietnam against French colonial forces.

In the realm of literature, the name THANH gained prominence with the poet and scholar Nguyen Thanh Hien (1819-1877). His works, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the resilience of the Vietnamese people, became widely acclaimed and influential during his lifetime.

The 20th century brought forth several notable individuals bearing the surname THANH. Vo Nguyen Giap (1911-2013), a prominent military leader and strategist, led the Vietnamese forces to victory against the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, a decisive turning point in the First Indochina War.

Another significant figure was Tran Thanh Van (1924-2018), a renowned painter and sculptor whose works captured the essence of Vietnamese culture and traditions. His art was celebrated both within Vietnam and internationally, and he received numerous accolades for his contributions to the artistic community.

In the field of politics, Nguyen Thanh Binh (1925-2013) was a prominent figure who served as the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 1975 to 1976, playing a crucial role in the reunification and reconstruction efforts following the Vietnam War.

While the surname THANH has its roots in Vietnam, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. Individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions across various fields, carrying forward the rich cultural heritage and resilience associated with their Vietnamese ancestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thanh

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

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

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

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