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

Wangmo, 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 Wangmo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wangmo in America

Wangmo is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wangmo surname appeared 240 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 Wangmo.

The history of the last name Wangmo

The surname WANGMO originates from the Tibetan language and is found predominantly in the high Himalayan regions of Tibet, Bhutan, and parts of Nepal. It traces its roots back to the 7th century CE during the establishment of the Tibetan Empire.

WANGMO is derived from the Tibetan words "Wang" meaning power or authority, and "Mo" meaning female or woman. It was initially used as a title or honorific for women of high social status, particularly those with connections to the ruling class or nobility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name WANGMO can be found in the Tibetan Buddhist text "The Life of the Buddha" (Jataka Tales), composed in the 8th century CE. This text mentions a character named Tsenmo Wangmo, who was a prominent Buddhist practitioner and teacher during that era.

In the 10th century, the Tibetan Empire fragmented, leading to the rise of various regional principalities and kingdoms. During this period, the name WANGMO became more widely adopted as a surname by families with ties to the former ruling class or those who held positions of influence within the new political order.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname WANGMO include Ani Lochen Wangmo (1055-1145), a renowned Tibetan Buddhist scholar and teacher who founded several monasteries and nunneries in central Tibet. Another prominent figure was Pema Wangmo (1459-1542), a Buddhist mystic and yogini who played a significant role in the propagation of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the 17th century, the name WANGMO gained further prominence with the rise of the Bhutanese monarchy. The first king of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651), appointed several individuals with the surname WANGMO to important administrative and religious positions within the newly established state.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname WANGMO was widely used among the ruling elite and aristocratic families of Bhutan, Tibet, and parts of Nepal. One notable figure from this period was Ashi Tshering Wangmo (1837-1892), the fourth queen consort of Bhutan and a prominent figure in the country's cultural and religious affairs.

Other historical figures bearing the surname WANGMO include Khando Wangmo (1719-1789), a Tibetan Buddhist nun and scholar who played a crucial role in the preservation and transmission of Buddhist teachings, and Lhamo Wangmo (1876-1941), a Bhutanese noblewoman and philanthropist known for her contributions to education and social welfare initiatives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wangmo

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

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

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

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