2010
#156,044
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Thoeun
A Cambodian surname derived from the Khmer word "thoun" meaning forest.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 126 Americans carry the last name Thoeun. That puts it at #149,446 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,720,273 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Thoeun 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
126
1 in 2,720,273
Census rank
#149,446
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
110
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 110 bearers of the surname Thoeun in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 149446th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Thoeun, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 91.8%. The next largest groups are White (3.6%) and Black (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Thoeun
The surname THOEUN is of Khmer origin, tracing its roots to Cambodia. It is believed to have emerged during the Angkorian period, spanning from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The name is derived from the Khmer word "thoeun," which means "precious" or "valuable," suggesting that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who were highly regarded or held in esteem within their communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name THOEUN can be found in the inscriptions of the Bayon temple, located in the ancient city of Angkor Thom, dating back to the late 12th or early 13th century. These inscriptions, carved into the intricate stone reliefs, provide a glimpse into the lives and names of individuals who lived during the height of the Khmer Empire.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Thoeun Chhi was recorded as a high-ranking official and advisor to King Ang Chan, who ruled the Khmer Empire from 1516 to 1566. Thoeun Chhi's name is mentioned in various historical accounts and chronicles, highlighting his influential role in the royal court and his contributions to the kingdom's governance.
During the 17th century, a renowned Khmer scholar and Buddhist monk named Thoeun Pon gained recognition for his extensive knowledge of Pali scriptures and his teachings on Buddhist philosophy. His writings and teachings were widely respected and studied throughout the region.
In the 19th century, a notable figure named Thoeun Khuon emerged as a prominent leader and military commander during the turbulent period of French colonial rule in Cambodia. He played a significant role in the resistance against foreign occupation and is remembered for his bravery and unwavering spirit in defending the sovereignty of his homeland.
Another notable individual bearing the surname THOEUN was Thoeun Oun, a revered Buddhist monk and scholar who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was renowned for his vast knowledge of Buddhist teachings and his contributions to the preservation and promotion of Khmer culture and traditions.
While the surname THOEUN has its roots in Cambodia, it has also spread to other parts of Southeast Asia, particularly among communities with Khmer heritage or influence. The name continues to carry a sense of respect and value, reflecting its historical significance and cultural origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Thoeun
Among Census respondents with the surname Thoeun, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 91.8%. The next largest groups are White (3.6%) and Black (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Thoeun 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 Thoeun surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander91.8% · 101
- White3.6% · 4
- Black or African American2.7% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.8% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Thoeun
Thoeun 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
#149,446
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
+6 bearers (+5.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,598 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #156,044 | 104 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #149,446 | 110 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.8%) | Up 6,598 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 Thoeun 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 | #156,044 | #149,446 | 4.2% |
| Count | 104 | 110 | 5.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Thoeun bearers went from 104 to 110 (+5.8% change). The surname moved up 6,598 positions in the national ranking, going from #156,044 to #149,446.
FAQ
Thoeun surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Thoeun?
Name Census estimates that about 126 living Americans carry the surname Thoeun. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,720,273 residents.
How common is Thoeun?
Thoeun ranks #149,446 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 110 people with the surname Thoeun. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (126), 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 Thoeun.
Has Thoeun become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Thoeun went from 104 recorded bearers to 110. That is an increase of 6 (+5.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #156,044 to #149,446.
What does the Census say about the background of Thoeun?
Among Census respondents with the surname Thoeun, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 91.8%. The next largest groups are White (3.6%) and Black (2.7%). 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 Thoeun in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.8% (101 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Thoeun appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (91.8%), White (3.6%), Black (2.7%). 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 Thoeun (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 Thoeun mean?
A Cambodian surname derived from the Khmer word "thoun" meaning forest. 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 Thoeun (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 people are called Thoeun?
Want to know how common the surname Thoeun is? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.