2000
#42,830
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 476
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.18
Very Rare Last name
Xayavong
A surname of Lao origin referring to someone from the Bang Xayvong village.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 703 Americans carry the last name Xayavong. That puts it at #38,825 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 487,560 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Xayavong 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
703
1 in 487,560
Census rank
#38,825
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
613
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 613 bearers of the surname Xayavong in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 38825th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Xayavong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and Hispanic (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Xayavong
The surname Xayavong finds its roots in the region of Southeast Asia, specifically within the borders of modern-day Laos. Originating from the Lao language, the name is believed to have surfaced during the late kingdom periods, possibly around the 15th to 17th centuries when the Lan Xang kingdom flourished. The Lan Xang kingdom, known as the Land of a Million Elephants, was one of the largest and most influential kingdoms in the region.
Philologically, the surname Xayavong can be dissected into two Lao words: "Xaya" and "Vong." "Xaya" means "victory" or "triumph," while "Vong" translates to "circle" or "group." Therefore, Xayavong could be interpreted to mean "circle of victory" or "group of triumph," which aligns with the Lao tradition of bestowing names that symbolize positive attributes or aspirations.
The name Xayavong, like many Lao names, likely did not appear in written records until the establishment of more formal governmental structures. Lao written scripts before the 19th century are scarce, but local administrative records and temple manuscripts from the era sometimes reference prominent families. One of the earliest known records mentioning the name dates back to the early 19th century, in Buddhist temple inscriptions in Vientiane documenting patron families.
Several notable individuals bear the surname Xayavong, highlighting its historical significance. Khamphanh Xayavong (1825-1890) was a prominent war strategist during the Siamese-Laotian conflicts of the mid-19th century, known for his tactical genius and leadership. Another person of interest is Thonglith Xayavong (1872-1948), a distinguished poet whose works often reflected the cultural and social ethos of the time.
Further down the line, Chansamone Xayavong (1898-1975) played a significant role in the early 20th century as an educator and reformist, advocating for Western educational models in Lao schools. Phoutthasak Xayavong (1921-1989) was a renowned traditional healer whose medical practices were well-respected across rural Laos. Lastly, Kanya Xayavong (1935-2004) held a significant cultural role as a dancer and choreographer, credited with the revival of several traditional Lao dances.
Though records before European colonial influence are limited, the Xayavong surname is deeply entrenched in Lao history and culture. Its bearers have often been found in roles of leadership and cultural preservation, reflecting the name's connotations of triumph and significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Xayavong
Among Census respondents with the surname Xayavong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and Hispanic (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Xayavong 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 Xayavong surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander86.3% · 529
- Two or more races5.5% · 34
- Hispanic or Latino4.1% · 25
- White3.3% · 20
- Black or African American0.7% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Xayavong
Xayavong 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.
2010
#37,229
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 599
+123 bearers (+25.8%)
Per 100,000 0.20
Rank movement Up 5,601 places
2020
#38,825
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 613
+14 bearers (+2.3%)
Per 100,000 0.21
Rank movement Down 1,596 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #42,830 | 476 | 0.18 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #37,229 | 599 | 0.20 | +123 bearers (+25.8%) | Up 5,601 places |
| 2020 | #38,825 | 613 | 0.21 | +14 bearers (+2.3%) | Down 1,596 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
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Xayavong surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #37,229 | #38,825 | -4.3% |
| Count | 599 | 613 | 2.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.20 | 0.21 | 2.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Xayavong bearers went from 599 to 613 (+2.3% change). The surname moved down 1,596 positions in the national ranking, going from #37,229 to #38,825.
FAQ
Xayavong surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Xayavong?
Name Census estimates that about 703 living Americans carry the surname Xayavong. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 487,560 residents.
How common is Xayavong?
Xayavong ranks #38,825 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.21 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 613 people with the surname Xayavong. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (703), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.21 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.21 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 Xayavong.
Has Xayavong become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Xayavong went from 599 recorded bearers to 613. That is an increase of 14 (+2.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #37,229 to #38,825.
What does the Census say about the background of Xayavong?
Among Census respondents with the surname Xayavong, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and Hispanic (4.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Xayavong in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.3% (529 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Xayavong appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (86.3%), Two or More Races (5.5%), Hispanic (4.1%). 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.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
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 Xayavong (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
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.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
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.
What does Xayavong mean?
A surname of Lao origin referring to someone from the Bang Xayvong village. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
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.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
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 Xayavong (0.21 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Xayavong?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Xayavong on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.