Vietnamese Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you interested in learning more about Vietnamese last names? Vietnamese surnames, often referred to as họ, are an integral part of Vietnamese culture and history. This guide will delve into the fascinating world of Vietnamese last names, exploring their origins, meanings, and significance. You'll discover a diverse array of surnames, each carrying unique historical and cultural weight. Let's embark on a journey to understand the rich tapestry of Vietnamese surnames.
1. **Nguyễn**: The most common Vietnamese surname, derived from the Chinese surname "Nguyen," meaning "original" or "first." It is believed to have originated from a legendary Vietnamese emperor.
2. **Trần**: Another prominent surname, stemming from the Chinese surname "Chen," signifying "morning" or "dawn." Associated with the Trần dynasty, a powerful ruling house in Vietnamese history.
3. **Lê**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Li," meaning "plum" or "apricot." The Lê dynasty was a significant ruling period in Vietnamese history, making this surname widely prevalent.
4. **Phạm**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Fan," meaning "fan" or "to spread." It is often linked to a lineage of scholars and officials.
5. **Phan**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Pan," meaning "basin" or "plate." Often associated with individuals known for their honesty and integrity.
6. **Vũ**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Wu," meaning "military" or "martial." This surname is commonly linked to individuals possessing strength and courage.
7. **Đặng**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Deng," meaning "lamp" or "light." This surname often symbolizes knowledge and enlightenment.
8. **Hồ**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Hu," meaning "lake" or "pond." This surname can represent tranquility and serenity.
9. **Ngô**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Wu," meaning "five" or "to weave." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing craftsmanship and skill.
10. **Bùi**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Bei," meaning "north" or "northern." This surname can signify stability and perseverance.
11. **Đỗ**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Du," meaning "to pass" or "to succeed." This surname is often associated with individuals destined for achievement.
12. **Hoàng**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Huang," meaning "yellow" or "emperor." This surname often represents nobility and royalty.
13. **Lý**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Li," meaning "plum" or "apricot." This surname is associated with individuals possessing gentleness and grace.
14. **Trương**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Zhang," meaning "bow" or "arrow." This surname can signify strength and resilience.
15. **Võ**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Wu," meaning "military" or "martial." This surname is commonly linked to individuals possessing bravery and combat skills.
16. **Cao**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Gao," meaning "tall" or "high." This surname often represents individuals with ambition and aspirations.
17. **Lưu**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Liu," meaning "willow" or "flexible." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing adaptability and resilience.
18. **Tạ**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Xie," meaning "thanks" or "gratitude." This surname often symbolizes individuals known for their kindness and generosity.
19. **Đinh**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Ding," meaning "nail" or "to fix." This surname is often associated with individuals known for their steadfastness and determination.
20. **Huỳnh**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Huang," meaning "yellow" or "emperor." This surname often signifies royalty and authority.
21. **Chu**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Zhu," meaning "pearl" or "jewel." This surname is often linked to individuals possessing brilliance and wisdom.
22. **Mạc**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Mo," meaning "to rub" or "to polish." This surname often represents individuals known for their diligence and perseverance.
23. **Thái**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Tai," meaning "great" or "huge." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing leadership qualities.
24. **Hà**: Originating from the Chinese surname "He," meaning "river" or "stream." This surname often signifies fluidity and adaptability.
25. **Lý**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Li," meaning "plum" or "apricot." This surname is associated with individuals possessing gentleness and grace.
26. **Quách**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Guo," meaning "country" or "nation." This surname often symbolizes individuals with a strong sense of patriotism.
27. **Dương**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Yang," meaning "sun" or "light." This surname often represents individuals possessing warmth and positivity.
28. **Thạch**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Shi," meaning "stone" or "rock." This surname often signifies strength and resilience.
29. **Mai**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Mei," meaning "plum blossom" or "beauty." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing elegance and refinement.
30. **Hứa**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Xu," meaning "to promise" or "to vow." This surname often symbolizes individuals known for their integrity and trustworthiness.
31. **Nghiêm**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Yan," meaning "severe" or "strict." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing discipline and orderliness.
32. **Nguyễn**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Nguyen," meaning "original" or "first." It is believed to have originated from a legendary Vietnamese emperor.
33. **Trần**: Another prominent surname, stemming from the Chinese surname "Chen," signifying "morning" or "dawn." Associated with the Trần dynasty, a powerful ruling house in Vietnamese history.
34. **Lê**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Li," meaning "plum" or "apricot." The Lê dynasty was a significant ruling period in Vietnamese history, making this surname widely prevalent.
35. **Phạm**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Fan," meaning "fan" or "to spread." It is often linked to a lineage of scholars and officials.
36. **Phan**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Pan," meaning "basin" or "plate." Often associated with individuals known for their honesty and integrity.
37. **Vũ**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Wu," meaning "military" or "martial." This surname is commonly linked to individuals possessing strength and courage.
38. **Đặng**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Deng," meaning "lamp" or "light." This surname often symbolizes knowledge and enlightenment.
39. **Hồ**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Hu," meaning "lake" or "pond." This surname can represent tranquility and serenity.
40. **Ngô**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Wu," meaning "five" or "to weave." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing craftsmanship and skill.
41. **Bùi**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Bei," meaning "north" or "northern." This surname can signify stability and perseverance.
42. **Đỗ**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Du," meaning "to pass" or "to succeed." This surname is often associated with individuals destined for achievement.
43. **Hoàng**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Huang," meaning "yellow" or "emperor." This surname often represents nobility and royalty.
44. **Lý**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Li," meaning "plum" or "apricot." This surname is associated with individuals possessing gentleness and grace.
45. **Trương**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Zhang," meaning "bow" or "arrow." This surname can signify strength and resilience.
46. **Võ**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Wu," meaning "military" or "martial." This surname is commonly linked to individuals possessing bravery and combat skills.
47. **Cao**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Gao," meaning "tall" or "high." This surname often represents individuals with ambition and aspirations.
48. **Lưu**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Liu," meaning "willow" or "flexible." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing adaptability and resilience.
49. **Tạ**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Xie," meaning "thanks" or "gratitude." This surname often symbolizes individuals known for their kindness and generosity.
50. **Đinh**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Ding," meaning "nail" or "to fix." This surname is often associated with individuals known for their steadfastness and determination.
51. **Huỳnh**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Huang," meaning "yellow" or "emperor." This surname often signifies royalty and authority.
52. **Chu**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Zhu," meaning "pearl" or "jewel." This surname is often linked to individuals possessing brilliance and wisdom.
53. **Mạc**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Mo," meaning "to rub" or "to polish." This surname often represents individuals known for their diligence and perseverance.
54. **Thái**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Tai," meaning "great" or "huge." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing leadership qualities.
55. **Hà**: Originating from the Chinese surname "He," meaning "river" or "stream." This surname often signifies fluidity and adaptability.
56. **Lý**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Li," meaning "plum" or "apricot." This surname is associated with individuals possessing gentleness and grace.
57. **Quách**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Guo," meaning "country" or "nation." This surname often symbolizes individuals with a strong sense of patriotism.
58. **Dương**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Yang," meaning "sun" or "light." This surname often represents individuals possessing warmth and positivity.
59. **Thạch**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Shi," meaning "stone" or "rock." This surname often signifies strength and resilience.
60. **Mai**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Mei," meaning "plum blossom" or "beauty." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing elegance and refinement.
61. **Hứa**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Xu," meaning "to promise" or "to vow." This surname often symbolizes individuals known for their integrity and trustworthiness.
62. **Nghiêm**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Yan," meaning "severe" or "strict." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing discipline and orderliness.
63. **Đỗ**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Du," meaning "to pass" or "to succeed." This surname is often associated with individuals destined for achievement.
64. **Hoàng**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Huang," meaning "yellow" or "emperor." This surname often represents nobility and royalty.
65. **Lý**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Li," meaning "plum" or "apricot." This surname is associated with individuals possessing gentleness and grace.
66. **Trương**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Zhang," meaning "bow" or "arrow." This surname can signify strength and resilience.
67. **Võ**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Wu," meaning "military" or "martial." This surname is commonly linked to individuals possessing bravery and combat skills.
68. **Cao**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Gao," meaning "tall" or "high." This surname often represents individuals with ambition and aspirations.
69. **Lưu**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Liu," meaning "willow" or "flexible." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing adaptability and resilience.
70. **Tạ**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Xie," meaning "thanks" or "gratitude." This surname often symbolizes individuals known for their kindness and generosity.
71. **Đinh**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Ding," meaning "nail" or "to fix." This surname is often associated with individuals known for their steadfastness and determination.
72. **Huỳnh**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Huang," meaning "yellow" or "emperor." This surname often signifies royalty and authority.
73. **Chu**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Zhu," meaning "pearl" or "jewel." This surname is often linked to individuals possessing brilliance and wisdom.
74. **Mạc**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Mo," meaning "to rub" or "to polish." This surname often represents individuals known for their diligence and perseverance.
75. **Thái**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Tai," meaning "great" or "huge." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing leadership qualities.
76. **Hà**: Originating from the Chinese surname "He," meaning "river" or "stream." This surname often signifies fluidity and adaptability.
77. **Lý**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Li," meaning "plum" or "apricot." This surname is associated with individuals possessing gentleness and grace.
78. **Quách**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Guo," meaning "country" or "nation." This surname often symbolizes individuals with a strong sense of patriotism.
79. **Dương**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Yang," meaning "sun" or "light." This surname often represents individuals possessing warmth and positivity.
80. **Thạch**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Shi," meaning "stone" or "rock." This surname often signifies strength and resilience.
81. **Mai**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Mei," meaning "plum blossom" or "beauty." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing elegance and refinement.
82. **Hứa**: Originating from the Chinese surname "Xu," meaning "to promise" or "to vow." This surname often symbolizes individuals known for their integrity and trustworthiness.
83. **Nghiêm**: Derived from the Chinese surname "Yan," meaning "severe" or "strict." This surname is often associated with individuals possessing discipline and orderliness.