2000
#148,244
National surname rank
First available Census row
A Southeast Asian surname possibly derived from the word "sane" meaning peaceful.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 120 Americans carry the last name Xayasane. That puts it at #152,989 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,856,286 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Xayasane 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
120
1 in 2,856,286
Census rank
#152,989
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
105
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 105 bearers of the surname Xayasane in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152989th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Xayasane, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.1%. The next largest groups are White (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.0%).
Origin
The surname Xayasane traces its roots to Laos, situated in Southeast Asia. This surname is embedded in the Laotian culture and history, deriving from the rich linguistic traditions of the Lao people. The Lao language, part of the Tai-Kadai language family, provides the etymological base for this surname. Historically, Laos has experienced various periods of influence, from the Kingdom of Lan Xang in the 14th century to its colonial period under French Indochina. The Lao people often derived their surnames from significant attributes or geographical markers, and Xayasane is believed to be no exception.
Exploring the etymology of Xayasane reveals connections to ancient Lao words. The prefix "Xaya" can be traced back to terms related to grandeur or prosperity, while "sane" might be connected to meanings of virtues or moral standing. This suggests that the name Xayasane might have originally signified a family of high standing or notable virtue within their community. While exact records pinpointing the first usage are scarce, it is typical for Lao surnames to encapsulate a sense of identity and social status passed down through generations.
One notable historical reference includes the recorded presence of the surname Xayasane in early 19th-century manuscripts, which documented the social hierarchies within Lao villages. These manuscripts often listed prominent families, detailing their contributions to local governance and culture. For instance, a manuscript dating back to 1824 mentions a Chao Xayasane, a local leader known for his administrative acumen and efforts in agricultural reform.
Among the earliest recorded instances of the surname, the year 1785 marks the birth of Thao Khamphoui Xayasane, a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Vientiane. Thao Khamphoui held a significant role in the regional administration and was known for his diplomatic efforts with neighboring Siamese officials. Another early notable individual is Nang Sombat Xayasane, born in 1812, who played a key role in the cultural preservation of Lao traditions through her poetry and folk songs which have been preserved in various compilations.
By the late 19th century, Xayasane had become more widespread among various classes within Lao society, reflecting a diversifying social structure. Another illustrious bearer of the surname during this period was Phagna Xayasane, born in 1856, who served as a military strategist during the Franco-Siamese conflicts. His contributions were instrumental in negotiating Lao autonomy under French colonial rule, earning him a place in historical records.
In the 20th century, the name Xayasane continued to be associated with distinguished personalities. Bounnhang Xayasane, born in 1924, emerged as a renowned scholar and educator. He dedicated his life to reforming the Lao educational system and was a key figure in establishing the modern educational infrastructure in Laos. Similarly, the political sphere saw figures like Khamsouk Xayasane, born in 1943, who was actively involved in the Pathet Lao movement and subsequently in the political reformation after the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975.
The cultural and historical significance of the surname Xayasane remains an enduring testament to its rich legacy within Laotian society. Its bearers have contributed to various facets of Laos' development and cultural preservation, making it a name embedded deeply within the nation's historical tapestry.
Demographics
Among Census respondents with the surname Xayasane, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.1%. The next largest groups are White (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Xayasane 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 Xayasane surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
Timeline
Xayasane appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2000
National surname rank
First available Census row
2010
National surname rank
+20 bearers (+19.6%)
2020
National surname rank
-17 bearers (-13.9%)
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #148,244 | 102 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | +20 bearers (+19.6%) | Up 10,917 places |
| 2020 | #152,989 | 105 | 0.04 | -17 bearers (-13.9%) | Down 15,662 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
How has the Xayasane surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #137,327 | #152,989 | -11.4% |
| Count | 122 | 105 | -13.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -12.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Xayasane bearers went from 122 to 105 (-13.9% change). The surname moved down 15,662 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #152,989.
FAQ
Name Census estimates that about 120 living Americans carry the surname Xayasane. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,856,286 residents.
Xayasane ranks #152,989 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.
The raw 2020 Census file counted 105 people with the surname Xayasane. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (120), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
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 Xayasane.
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Xayasane went from 122 recorded bearers to 105. That is a decrease of 17 (-13.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #152,989.
Among Census respondents with the surname Xayasane, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 97.1%. The next largest groups are White (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Xayasane in the 2020 Census, accounting for 97.1% (102 people in the source table).
Xayasane appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (97.1%), White (1.9%), Hispanic (1.0%). 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.
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 Xayasane (2000, 2010, 2020).
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.
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.
A Southeast Asian surname possibly derived from the word "sane" meaning peaceful. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
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.
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 Xayasane (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.
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.