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

Thao, 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 Thao surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thao in America

Thao is the 1536th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thao surname appeared 23,404 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Thao.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thao 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 Thao

The surname THAO has its origins in Vietnam, specifically in the northern region. It is believed to have originated during the 15th century, a period marked by the rule of the Le Dynasty. THAO is derived from the Vietnamese word "thao," which means "talented" or "skilled," particularly in reference to military prowess or leadership abilities.

In the early days, the THAO surname was commonly associated with individuals who held positions of authority within the military or government ranks. Historical records suggest that the name was initially bestowed upon high-ranking officials and military commanders who displayed exceptional skill and valor on the battlefield.

One of the earliest known references to the THAO surname can be found in the "Quoc Trieu Chinh Bien De Luc," a compilation of historical annals from the Le Dynasty. This text documented the achievements of several individuals bearing the THAO name, including General Thao Nguyen Van, a renowned military leader who played a pivotal role in the defense of the country against foreign invasions in the late 15th century.

As the THAO surname gained recognition and prestige, it began to spread beyond the confines of the northern region, eventually reaching other parts of Vietnam. Over time, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, with some records indicating the name as "Thau" or "Thao."

Notable individuals with the THAO surname include:

1. Thao Nguyen Huu Chi (1640-1711), a celebrated poet and philosopher during the Later Le Dynasty.
2. Thao Nguyen Phuc Khoat (1726-1804), a prominent military commander who played a crucial role in the Tay Son Rebellion against the Nguyen Lords.
3. Thao Nguyen Van Vien (1905-1995), a revered military leader and politician who served as the Prime Minister of South Vietnam from 1965 to 1967.
4. Thao Nguyen Xuan Vinh (born 1946), a Vietnamese-American author and scholar, renowned for his works on Vietnamese literature and culture.
5. Thao Nguyen Phan (born 1975), a Vietnamese-American entrepreneur and co-founder of the popular online retailer, Charitybuzz.

While the THAO surname has its roots in Vietnam, it has since spread across the globe, carried by Vietnamese diaspora communities and individuals who have migrated to various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thao

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

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

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

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