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Vietnam Surnames

Surnames (or family names) are hereditary and are often common to all members of a family.

Occupational surnames are derived from an occupation. Examples include Taylor, Smith, and Baker.

Toponymic surnames are derived from a place. Examples include Ayers (a person from Ayers, Scotland) and Bach (German for a person who lives near a stream).

Religious surnames are derived directly or indirectly from religious texts or traditions. Examples include Christian biblical names, Hebrew names from the Torah, and Muslim names from the Quran.

Nickname derived surnames are those based upon appearance, temperament, or personality. An example is the German surname Schwarzkopf (in German, schwarz=black, Kopf= head) meaning a person with dark hair.

Ornamental surnames are those that were adopted or forced upon individuals (and families) under political pressure.

Patronymic surnames are derived from the given name of a male ancestor. An example is the English patronymic surname Peterson, meaning son of Peter.

Female patronymic surnames (also known as female possessive suffix surnames) are a female form of a patronymic surname, most typically a patronymic surname with a feminine suffix added. For example, in Russian, the wife of Mikhail Gorbachev is Raisa Gorbachova, -ev is replaced with ova.

Matronymic surnames are derived from the given name of a female ancestor. An example is the English matronymic surname Tiffany.

Popular Surnames (Family) in Vietnam

Rank Name Meaning Distribution
95 Hai 99,563
94 le Van 99,563
96 Diem 98,967
97 La 97,377
98 Quoc 97,178
99 Dieu 94,793
100 Tien 93,402
101 Giang 92,409
17 Dinh

Dinh is derived from a Chinese character meaning "stable" or "firm." 

 918,720
18 Hồ

Hồ is based on a Chinese character meaning "lake" or "river." It signifies ties to water bodies or geographical features.

 871,025
19 Trinh

Trinh originates from a Chinese surname meaning "order" or "arrange." It represents nobility or administrative roles.

 804,452
20 Doan

Doan has its roots in a Chinese character meaning "group" or "section." It often represents a lineage involved in governance or administration.

 717,011
21 Thi

Thi is commonly used as a middle name for females in Vietnamese culture and is not exclusively a surname. It generally means "poetry."

 697,933
22 Hong

Hong comes from the Chinese word for "rose" or "red." It is also often used as a given name or middle name with various positive connotations.

 695,151
23 Dao

Dao traces its roots to a Chinese character meaning "peach." The surname is associated with beauty and longevity.

 665,541
24 Hung

Hung is derived from a Chinese word meaning "prosperity" or "abundance." It represents someone who is influential or successful.

 656,797
25 Lam

Lam is based on a Chinese character meaning "forest." The surname signifies ties to nature or geographical features.

 602,941
3 Trần

Trần traces its roots to the Tran dynasty, who ruled Vietnam from the 13th to 15th centuries. It originates from a Chinese character meaning "display" or "arrange."

 5,588,430
26 Cao

Cao originates from a Chinese character meaning "high" or "lofty," often symbolizing social status or noble lineage.

 545,310
27 Luong

Luong has its roots in a Chinese character meaning "beam" or "bridge." It often represents a supportive or bridging role.

 527,027
28 Luu

Luu is derived from a Chinese character meaning "stay" or "remain." 

 468,203
29 Thai

Thai is derived from a Chinese character meaning "peace" or "safe."

 462,242
30 Nam

Nam means "south" and reflects ancestral or geographical ties to southern regions.

 431,439
31 Lý

Lý has its origins in the Lý dynasty, one of Vietnam's most influential ruling families. The surname is thought to have meant "plum" and symbolizes historical nobility.

 421,502
32 Thanh 420,310
33 Tu 375,994
34 Lan 374,801
4 Phạm

Phạm is believed to have originated from a Chinese surname and has connections to ancient noble families. It generally means "cultivate" or "nurture."

 3,695,750
35 Mai 367,051
36 Son 364,070
37 Van 362,878
38 Phung 359,300
39 Anh 351,153
5 Lê

Lê is associated with the Le dynasty, a prominent ruling family in Vietnamese history. It is thought to have originated from the Chinese character for "plum."

 3,411,170
40 Chau 328,100
41 Minh 318,164
42 Vuong 316,971
43 Chu 305,048
44 Tan 298,092
45 Nguyn 295,310
46 An 294,515
47 Ta 285,374
48 Ngoc 284,181
49 Tam 267,687
50 Tung 261,129
51 Yen 253,577
53 Bao 251,590
52 Phuong 250,795
54 To 240,064
55 Huu 226,948
6 Hoang

Hoang is derived from the Chinese surname Huang, meaning "yellow" or "royal." It signifies nobility or the color of gold.

 2,161,170
56 Thuy 214,428
7 Vũ (Võ)

Vũ, or Võ in the southern dialect, may have originated from a Chinese character meaning "military" or "brave."

 2,020,270
57 Thu 198,331
58 le Thi 192,766
59 Dong 187,997
60 Quan 185,016
61 Quang 175,079
62 Ngan 166,932
63 Lien 166,137
8 Phan

Phan originates from the Chinese character that means "plate" or "tray." Historically, it represents a noble family or a merchant class.

 1,634,340
64 Trang 162,361
65 Quach 155,604
66 Tuan 154,412
67 Lai 153,816
68 Diep 150,835
9 Bùi

Bùi is linked to a Chinese character representing a regional family name or clan. It generally signifies historical roots in a particular area.

 1,482,710
69 Chung 144,873
70 Linh 144,873
10 Huỳnh

Huỳnh is derived from the Chinese surname Huang, meaning "yellow" or "royal." It reflects historical ties to nobility.

 1,417,330
71 Dung 140,898
72 Huong 136,526
11 Đặng

Đặng has Chinese origins, meaning "light" or "bright." It represents historical ties to ancient noble families.

 1,318,760
73 Tong 131,161
74 Trieu 130,962
75 Duc 129,372
76 Hue 129,173
12 Truong

Truong comes from a Chinese character meaning "chief" or "leader," symbolizing someone who holds a high-ranking position.

 1,281,800
77 Ng 123,410
78 Trung 122,218
79 Viet 120,429
80 Xuan 119,436
81 Han 118,045
13 Ngô

Ngô is derived from the Chinese surname Wu, meaning "fine" or "majestic." It often signifies someone with a noble lineage.

 1,180,050
82 Tang 115,859
83 Dam 115,660
84 Bach 115,660
85 Quy 113,871
86 Thao 111,288
87 Hoa 110,890
14 Dương

Dương traces its roots to a Chinese character meaning "poplar tree" or "sun." 

 1,075,910
15 Ha

Ha originates from a Chinese character meaning "river," reflecting geographical or ancestral ties to a river region.

 1,071,940
89 Ba 107,114
88 Duy 107,114
90 Nghiem 105,127
91 Tai 104,332
92 Lu 103,140
16 Đỗ

Đỗ has its roots in a Chinese character meaning "to cross" or "ferry." It typically represents a historical lineage with connections to trade.

 1,025,240
93 Đặng 101,550
2 Nguyễn

Nguyễn is the most common surname in Vietnam, derived from a ruling dynasty that originated in China. It signifies historical connections to nobility, often meaning "musical instrument."

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