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

Thongvanh, 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 Thongvanh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thongvanh in America

Thongvanh is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thongvanh surname appeared 113 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 Thongvanh.

The history of the last name Thongvanh

The surname Thongvanh has its origins in Laos, a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is a Lao name that can be traced back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Lao words "thong," meaning golden or yellow, and "vanh," meaning ring or bracelet.

In the 16th century, the name Thongvanh was associated with the ruling class and nobility in Laos. It was often given to individuals who held positions of power or were part of the royal family. The name's connection to gold and jewelry symbolized wealth and status.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Thongvanh can be found in the "Phuen Khong Chiat," an ancient Lao manuscript from the 17th century. This manuscript details the history and lineage of various noble families in Laos, including those with the surname Thongvanh.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the name Thongvanh was Prince Thongvanh Souvannarath, who played a significant role in the political affairs of the Kingdom of Lan Xang, a powerful Lao kingdom that existed from the 14th to the 18th century.

During the 19th century, the name Thongvanh was also associated with the region of Xieng Khouang, located in northeastern Laos. Many Thongvanh families resided in this area, and the name became particularly prevalent there.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Thongvanh was Kaysone Phomvihane (1920-1992), a prominent Lao revolutionary and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Laos and later as the President of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

Other notable figures with the surname Thongvanh include Khampadith Thongvanh (1921-1991), a Lao diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, and Khamtay Siphandone (1924-2018), a Lao politician and former President of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

In modern times, the surname Thongvanh continues to be widely used in Laos, as well as among Lao communities around the world. It remains a prominent and respected name with a rich historical background rooted in the country's heritage and traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thongvanh

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

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 Thongvanh 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.

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

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

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