Surname · Vietnamese origin
Nguyen
Meaning
The surname Nguyen means An ancient clan name (阮).
Origin
Vietnamese
Type
clan name
Variants
1
The origin of the surname Nguyen
Nguyễn, borne by roughly two-fifths of Vietnamese people, derives from the Chinese character 阮.
What kind of surname is Nguyen?
Nguyen is a clan name surname. It belongs to the Vietnamese naming tradition — you can read how Vietnamese surnames were formed on our Vietnamese last names page.
Variants & spellings of Nguyen
You may also see this surname written as:
- Nguyễn
Other Vietnamese surnames
Other clan name surnames
Family names formed the same way, from different cultures.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Nguyen mean?
The surname Nguyen means An ancient clan name (阮). Nguyễn, borne by roughly two-fifths of Vietnamese people, derives from the Chinese character 阮.
Where does the surname Nguyen come from?
Nguyen is a surname of Vietnamese origin.
What kind of surname is Nguyen?
Nguyen is a clan name surname.
What are other spellings of Nguyen?
Variant spellings of Nguyen include Nguyễn.
What are other Vietnamese surnames?
Other Vietnamese surnames include Bui, Dang, Do, Hoang, Le, Ly.