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

Tien, 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 Tien surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tien in America

Tien is the 14139th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tien surname appeared 2,125 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Tien.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tien 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 Tien

The surname TIEN is of Vietnamese origin, and it is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Vietnam during the 11th century. The name is derived from the Vietnamese word "tiền," which translates to "money" or "currency," suggesting that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in trade or finance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TIEN surname can be found in the Annals of Đại Việt, a historical text dating back to the 15th century. It mentions a prominent figure named Tien Nguyen, who served as a high-ranking official in the imperial court during the Lý Dynasty (1009-1225).

In the 13th century, the TIEN surname gained further recognition when a renowned scholar and poet, Tien Tri (1230-1291), gained fame for his literary contributions. His works, which often explored themes of nature and philosophy, were widely celebrated and influenced the development of Vietnamese literature.

During the 16th century, a military commander named Tien Quang (1515-1582) rose to prominence for his strategic leadership in defending Vietnam against foreign invasions. His bravery and tactical skills earned him a place in the annals of Vietnamese history, and his descendants continued to carry the TIEN surname with pride.

Another notable figure was Tien Dung (1717-1776), a celebrated artist who specialized in traditional Vietnamese lacquer painting. His intricate works depicting landscapes and scenes from daily life were highly sought after and are now considered treasures of Vietnamese cultural heritage.

In the 19th century, Tien Phat (1802-1870), a prominent Buddhist monk, gained recognition for his teachings and contributions to the spiritual and philosophical traditions of Vietnam. His writings and sermons inspired many followers and helped to preserve and promote Buddhist values throughout the country.

While the TIEN surname may have originated in Vietnam, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or settled in different regions. However, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural and historical tapestry of Vietnam, where it has left an indelible mark on the nation's heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tien

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

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

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

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