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

Thongkham, 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 Thongkham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thongkham in America

Thongkham is the 104156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thongkham surname appeared 172 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 Thongkham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thongkham 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 Thongkham

The surname Thongkham has its origins in Thailand, where it emerged during the Ayutthaya period (1351-1767 CE). It is believed to be derived from the Thai words "thong," meaning gold, and "kham," meaning fortress or stronghold. This suggests that the name may have originated from an area or settlement known for its gold mining or trade activities, or perhaps from a fortified location associated with the gold industry.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Thongkham can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in official records and manuscripts documenting the names of prominent families and individuals involved in various aspects of Thai society, including trade, administration, and military affairs.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Thongkham name was Phra Thongkham, a respected Buddhist monk who lived during the reign of King Narai (1633-1688 CE). He was renowned for his teachings and contributions to the propagation of Buddhism in Thailand.

Another notable figure was Chao Thongkham, a military commander who played a significant role in the Siamese-Burmese Wars of the 18th century. His bravery and strategic prowess were documented in several historical accounts of the time.

In the 19th century, Luang Thongkham was a prominent merchant and trader who established successful business ventures throughout Southeast Asia. His wealth and influence were recognized by the Thai royal court, and he was granted noble titles in recognition of his contributions to the kingdom's economy.

The name Thongkham has also been associated with various place names in Thailand, such as Ban Thongkham, a village in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, and Thongkham District, an administrative division in the southern province of Chumphon.

Over the centuries, the Thongkham surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, artists, politicians, and military leaders, all of whom have contributed to the rich tapestry of Thai history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thongkham

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!