Vietnamese Genealogy

Vietnam encompasses a diverse range of genealogies, with more than 150 distinct families among the Viet ethnic groups alone. Including the 53 other ethnic minorities, the total number of genealogies can reach as high as 1,000. The Nguyen genealogy remains the most prevalent, accounting for approximately 38.4% of the Vietnamese population.

The Nguyen dynasty, being the last feudal administration in Vietnam, is notable for its enduring lineage. Unlike the Ly, Tran, and Le genealogies, whose members faced extermination during power transitions, the Nguyen people largely avoided such fates, which historically plagued other families that had ruled as emperors.

The Ly dynasty was overthrown by the Tran dynasty, leading to the execution of many with the Ly surname and forcing survivors to seek refuge abroad. It’s believed that the Korean surname Lee traces its roots back to the Ly dynasty in Vietnam. Similarly, the Tran dynasty experienced a tragic downfall, mirroring the atrocities they once inflicted on the Ly lineage.

Photo: thietkegiapha.vn

Following the rise of the Ho dynasty, the Tran genealogy faced near extinction due to reprisals from the Ming dynasty, which ruled Vietnam after the fall of the Ho dynasty. In the 19th century, many members of the Le family were killed after the Nguyen dynasty solidified its power. The Nguyen family favored their own, leading others to adopt the Nguyen surname for the sake of survival.

This historical context explains the high prevalence of the Nguyen surname. Following the Nguyen family, the Tran and Le families come next, comprising around 11% and 9.5% of the population, respectively. Additionally, the Pham surname represents about 7%, and the Hoang/Huynh surname accounts for approximately 5%. Together, the five largest genealogies and ten others constitute 90% of the population in Vietnam.

Other prominent family names include Phan, Vu/Vo, Dang, Bui, Do, Ho, Ngo, Kim, Duong, and Ly. Beyond the top 15, over 120 different surnames make up the remaining 10% of the population. The surname Leu is unique to Vietnam, while many others are derived from neighboring countries such as China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.

Here are the most popular surnames in Vietnam and their population percentages in 2025:

For more insights into family relationships in Vietnam, click here.

Did you know: Nguyen is ranked fourth among the most common surnames globally, with about 36 million individuals bearing the name, trailing only the widely used Chinese surnames Li, Zhang, and Wang.

Sources:

• Thietkegiapha (Vietnamese): Accessed January 2025
• Tuoitrexahoi (Vietnamese): Accessed January 2025