Exploring Your Family’s Vietnamese Origin: Common Vietnamese Surnames

As a nation with over 100 million people, it’s easy to assume Vietnam would have a wealth of last names, but in reality, around 40% of the population shares the same Vietnamese last name: Nguyen. Despite Vietnam’s growing population, the vast majority of people have one of the top 14 last names. These can reveal clan affiliations and loyalties or be passed down patrilineally, but today, because so many last names are shared, an emphasis is commonly placed on first and middle names for identity. Exploring your Vietnamese last name‘s meaning and origin may help you trace your roots across centuries and oceans to discover more about your family heritage.

Origins of Vietnamese Last Names

Last names in Vietnam can be traced back to 111 B.C., which marked the start of a thousand-year occupation by the Chinese Han Dynasty. Prior to this, there’s little information about last names due to a lack of written records.

Under the Chinese Emperor Fu Xi, Chinese surnames were issued to help track taxes and for census purposes. As China did in many of the areas it colonized, it planned to collect taxes from the Vietnamese people, and that meant requiring a more sophisticated form of naming for record keeping. Due to the Chinese presence, the original last names in Vietnam were given based on those who were overseeing the land.

Because of this, the vast majority of Vietnamese last names can be traced back to China, representing clans or the consequences of colonization. Over time, regional variations popped up, accounting for why some names have different spellings but the same pronunciation. 

For example, Huynh and Hoang are both cognates that can be traced to the Chinese name Huang. While both share the same meaning and etymology, southern Vietnamese people adopted Huynh because the ruler Nguyen Hoang (1525-1613 A.D.) governed the southern provinces of Vietnam. China and areas influenced by it held a cultural taboo against writing or using the names of exalted persons, such as rulers. When Nguyen Hoang took power in southern Vietnam, his name posed a problem, and to avoid issues, the spelling was changed. 

Why So Many People Share the Same Last Name 

The popularity of the last name “Nguyen” lends itself to several theories as to why. One is that during the Northern and Southern dynasties, an influx of Chinese refugees fled from political upheaval, settling in Vietnam. As they assimilated, they created an influx of those with the name Nguyen.

Another theory goes back to the late 1100s when General Tran Thu Do overthrew the Ly Dynasty. By arranging a marriage between his nephew and the Empress Regnant of the Ly Dynasty, General Tran served as the grand chancellor. It’s said that he forced any Ly descendants to change their last names to Nguyen. 

Others believe the influx of the name Nguyen was due to a lack of last names among populations with lower socioeconomic status when the French colonized the nation. Much like how the Chinese needed a way to track people, France assigned Nguyen to anyone without a last name.

Vietnamese Naming Practices

In Vietnam, names are written opposite of what many Western people are used to. The last name comes first, followed by the middle name and the given name comes last. In most cases, fathers pass their last names to their children, and when couples marry, women typically don’t take their husbands’ last names. It’s normal to see mothers with last names varying from their children for this reason, but this may change in the future. It’s becoming more common for two last names to be given to babies, with the father’s coming first, followed by the mother’s. 

New parents put a lot of thought into the names of their children, with most names giving a literal meaning for something they hope for their babies. It’s common to see people bearing names meaning favor or grace (An), genuine or true (Chan), and other virtues. Other given names may be used to represent something poetic, such as Lien (lotus) or Phong (wind). 

Middle names play a big role in the overall meaning of names, often adding an auspicious or poetic element. It’s also common for siblings to share the same middle name, denoting an entire generation or branch of a family. Less commonly, middle names may be given to denote birth order for boys, with Manh for first-borns, Trong for second-borns, and Qui for third-borns.

Common Vietnamese Last Names

While more uncommon Vietnamese last names, such as Thach or Chu exist, they’re not encountered frequently. To put this into perspective, the most common last name in the United States is Smith, with nearly 2.5 million sharing it. The number of Smiths in the United States would have to increase from around 2.5 million to nearly 133 million to compare to the most popular Vietnamese name.

1. Nguyen: With approximately 40% of the population called Nguyen, it’s by far the most popular Vietnamese last name. It comes from the Chinese name Ruan, which denotes a traditional Chinese instrument. It’s found in numerous famous and important people, including former President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, writer Nguyen Huy Thiep, and President of VietJet Air, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao.
2. Tran: People with the last name Tran comprise 11%, or a little more than 1 in 10 of the Vietnamese population. It’s derived from the Chinese name Chen, meaning “to explain.” It can be seen on Tran Hung Dao, a legendary Vietnamese military strategist who played a part in defeating two Mongol invasions.
3. Le: Shared among 9.5% of the Vietnamese population, Le is the third most common last name. It’s derived from the Chinese name Li, meaning “plum,” or” rules” depending on the character used to write it. Vietnamese general Le Van Duyet has this name.
4. Pham: The Vietnamese last name Pham can be traced to the Mandarin or Cantonese name Fan, meaning “mold” or “restrict” in ancient Chinese. It’s shared among 7.1% of the Vietnamese population. Vietnamese-born French actress Linh-Dan Pham has this last name.
5. Huynh/Hoang: Both Huynh and Hoang are regional variants for the Chinese name Wang, meaning “king” or “royal.” As the fifth most popular last name, an estimated 5.1% of the population shares it. Carol Huynh, a Canadian wrestler, has this name.
6. Phan: Derived from the Chinese name Pan, 4.5% of all Vietnamese people’s last name is Phan, meaning “rice water.” Phan Khoi, a Vietnamese nationalist and follower of Phan Chau Trinh has this name.
7. Vu/Vo: Meaning “wind,” the name Vu or Vo is attributed to 3.9% of the Vietnamese population. Like Huynh/Hoang, it has a regional divide, with the North spelling it Vu and the South spelling it Vo. Unlike most other Vietnamese last names, there isn’t one decisive Chinese last name it can be traced to. Numerous Chinese names may be pronounced similarly, with meanings being determined by the unique character used to write them. This last name can be spotted on Vietnamese American film director Victor Vu.
8. Dang: 2.1% of Vietnam’s population have the last name Dang, derived from the Chinese name Deng, a place name for the state in the Henan province. Vietnamese fashion designer Dang Thi Minh Hanh and Vietnamese film director Dang Nhat Minh share this last name.
9. Bui: Derived from the Chinese name Pei, meaning “hanging down,” Bui is the ninth most popular last name, comprising around 2% of the population. 1988 Miss Vietnam, Bui Bich Phuong holds name.
10. Do: Ranking as the 10th most popular last name with around 1.4% of the population using this name, it’s likely derived from the Chinese last name Du, meaning “birchleaf pear” or Tu, meaning “paint smear.” Anh Do, a Vietnamese Australian actor, uses this last name.
11. Ho: The Vietnamese name Ho, sometimes spelled Huo, is derived from the Chinese name meaning “suddenly” or being surrounded by hills. It’s the name of a state within the Shanxi province that was granted to Shu Chu, the eighth son of King Wen of Zhou. Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Vietnamese nationalist movement, famously held this last name, though he was born Nguyen That Thanh.
12. Ngo: 1.3% of the population shares the last name Ngo in Vietnam. It’s been carried by many kings and is derived from the Chinese name Wu, which can have several meanings. The common translation is “big large,” after the state that was given to Tai Bo, the son of King Tai of Zhou. In Vietnam, the name can be traced to Ngo Nhat Dai from the 700s. It was also held by Ngo Quyen, a leader whose victory at the Battle of Bach Dang ended the 1,000-year reign China held over the nation. Thanh Hai Ngo, former Canadian politician and Ontario Senator from 2012-2022 has this last name.
13. Duong: An estimated 1% of the Vietnamese population shares the last name Duong. It’s derived from the Chinese name Yang and means “dear one.” This last name is used by Duong Van Minh, a South Vietnamese president and the general of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
14. Ly: Around 0.5% of the Vietnamese population shares the last name Ly. Derived from the Chinese Li and related to Lee, the name means “plum.” Vietnamese American professional poker player Minh Ly has this last name.

Identity Within Given Names

Those with Vietnamese heritage may not find last names to be as useful a tool for genealogy as others do. Because last names are shared so commonly, most Vietnamese people prefer to address each other by their whole or given names. They may also add an honorific based on social or familial relationships as an added term of endearment or respect. In fact, last names aren’t particularly utilized outside of official or professional settings and it isn’t common to address a person by their last name alone. 

When naming a child, the meaning of their last name is considered, helping parents weave together a meaningful moniker. Their entire name is meant to convey something special about them. For example, the name Nguyen Gia Hanh Phuc may be given to convey the meaning “happiness and fortune to the Nguyen family.”

Searching for Your Ancestors

Last names can paint pictures of the lives of ancestors, from where they lived to what they did. In genealogy, studying last names can help fill a family tree by revealing potential relatives too. While having a common Vietnamese last name may complicate your search because of the sheer number of people with them, it’s still possible to trace your heritage with other Ancestry^® tools offered. You can search for your family’s last name, revealing information about its meaning, significance, place of origin, and clan affiliation.

AncestryDNA^® analyzes your genetic information and presents it in an easy-to-digest way. It can provide insight into your lineage by showing regions and communities where your ancestors may have lived and matching you with biological family members who have also submitted tests. If your family immigrated to the United States, you may also be able to find family records with the Immigration & Travel database, searching by name and country of origin. 

If your Vietnamese last name is a mystery to you, Ancestry can provide insight into its origins and help you begin building your family tree. Start a free trial to begin.