2000
#139,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Xaysana
A surname originating from Laos meaning 'prosperous'.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 158 Americans carry the last name Xaysana. That puts it at #129,045 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,169,331 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Xaysana 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
158
1 in 2,169,331
Census rank
#129,045
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
138
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 138 bearers of the surname Xaysana in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 129045th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Xaysana, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 77.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (12.3%) and Hispanic (5.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Xaysana
The surname Xaysana originates from Laos, a country in Southeast Asia. It is primarily associated with the Lao ethnic group and is often found among people of Laotian descent. The surname likely emerged during the formation of modern Laotian society in the 14th century when the Kingdom of Lan Xang, meaning "Million Elephants," was established.
The etymology of Xaysana can be traced to old Lao and Pali languages. "Xay" translates to "victory" or "success" in Lao, and "Sana" is a Pali-derived term meaning "glory" or "fame." Consequently, Xaysana can be interpreted as "glorious victory" or "famed for success," reflecting the cultural significance of these values in Laotian society.
Historical references to the surname Xaysana are sparse due to the oral tradition of record-keeping in ancient Laos, which means that many early records have not survived. However, mentions of the name can be found in early 19th-century texts and documents related to the Laotian royal court and notable families.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname dates back to the 1820s, where a nobleman named Udom Xaysana served under King Anouvong of the Vientiane Kingdom. Udom Xaysana was known for his military prowess and loyalty, contributing to the kingdom's defense against Siamese invasions.
The surname also appears in the annals of Lao literature, with Sukanya Xaysana, a poet from the late 19th century, being one of the most celebrated literary figures of her time. Her work reflected the cultural and social conditions of Laos during the French colonial period.
Throughout the 20th century, individuals with the surname Xaysana continued to play significant roles in Laotian society. Vieng Xaysana, born in 1904, was a notable educator and advocate for women's rights who significantly contributed to the development of modern education in Laos.
In the political sphere, Khamsing Xaysana, born in 1942, emerged as a key figure during the Lao civil war, aligning with communist forces that eventually led to the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975. His contributions to the political landscape of Laos are well-documented and respected.
More recently, Sombath Xaysana, born in 1960, gained recognition for his work in rural development and social activism. He championed sustainable agricultural practices and community-based initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation, receiving several accolades for his commitment to improving the lives of rural Laotians.
The surname Xaysana, with its rich history and meaningful etymology, continues to be an enduring symbol of Laotian heritage, reflecting the values of success, glory, and resilience embedded within the culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Xaysana
Among Census respondents with the surname Xaysana, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 77.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (12.3%) and Hispanic (5.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Xaysana 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 Xaysana surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander77.5% · 107
- Two or more races12.3% · 17
- Hispanic or Latino5.1% · 7
- White2.9% · 4
- Black or African American2.2% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Xaysana
Xaysana 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
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
-2 bearers (-1.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 11,775 places
2020
#129,045
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 138
+30 bearers (+27.8%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 22,487 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #139,757 | 110 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | -2 bearers (-1.8%) | Down 11,775 places |
| 2020 | #129,045 | 138 | 0.05 | +30 bearers (+27.8%) | Up 22,487 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 Xaysana 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 | #151,532 | #129,045 | 14.8% |
| Count | 108 | 138 | 27.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.05 | 15.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Xaysana bearers went from 108 to 138 (+27.8% change). The surname moved up 22,487 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #129,045.
FAQ
Xaysana surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Xaysana?
Name Census estimates that about 158 living Americans carry the surname Xaysana. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,169,331 residents.
How common is Xaysana?
Xaysana ranks #129,045 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.05 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 138 people with the surname Xaysana. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (158), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.05 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 Xaysana.
Has Xaysana become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Xaysana went from 108 recorded bearers to 138. That is an increase of 30 (+27.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #151,532 to #129,045.
What does the Census say about the background of Xaysana?
Among Census respondents with the surname Xaysana, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 77.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (12.3%) and Hispanic (5.1%). 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 Xaysana in the 2020 Census, accounting for 77.5% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Xaysana appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (77.5%), Two or More Races (12.3%), Hispanic (5.1%). 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 Xaysana (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 Xaysana mean?
A surname originating from Laos meaning 'prosperous'. 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 Xaysana (0.05 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 many people are called Xaysana?
Want to know how common the surname Xaysana is? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.