Are all Thai surnames different?
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Are all Thai surnames different?
In Thailand, family names are so long and unique because you are not supposed to have the same last names as someone if you’re not related. I find it so confusing to know that western people have the same last names, like Smith or Jones all the time.
Is Thai a Chinese last name?
Thai Surname Meaning Thai is a common last name found among Overseas Chinese communities around the world. In fact, “Thai” is the transliteration of several different Chinese surnames.
What is the most common Thai surname?
Most Common Last Names In Thailand
| Rank | Surname | Incidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saetang | 89,926 |
| 2 | Chen | 88,520 |
| 3 | Saelim | 86,176 |
| 4 | Wang | 84,369 |
Why are Thai names different?
Thais historically only used short names, the names that today would be considered nicknames. There were no clans in the Thailand of old, and so no identifying naming conventions were needed. Only the Royal Family had official names, taken from the ancient language of Sanskrit.
How do I find my Thai last name?
Thai naming conventions arrange names as follows: [given name] [FAMILY NAME]. For example, Somchai THEERAVIT (male) and Parfun VAIYASINGHA (female). The given name (or ‘personal name’) is chosen at birth as the individual’s personal identifier. It is generally considered the most important aspect of a person’s name.
Why are Thai last names unique?
The uniqueness of last names from Thailand stems from a 1913 law that no two people could take the same last name. King Rama VI decreed that all permanent residents of the country, then called Siam, must adopt a last name.
Do Thais of Chinese descent have long family names?
Thais with Chinese descent commonly have a long family name which could be observed easily. Some still uses the old style family name by showing Chinese family name after “Sae” for example. Sae Bae, Sae Lim. Some modifies family name and combined with Thai word.
How many Thai last names are there in the world?
Thai last names also have little variation and if you research the last name of a family that did not marry into other ethnicities, you find only about 100 purely Thai language last names. The variety in the last names of those of Thai heritage comes from the influences of Chinese culture or from marrying into various Arab countries.
What are some examples of short Thai last names?
For instance, Metanee, Kitsuwan and Timkun are all short Thai last names. These are usually last names belonging to ethnic Thais ie: those whose families have been native Thai for many generations. Where the long surnames come in are usually with Chinese-Thais, ie: people who are members…
How do Thai people get their names?
The ‘family name’ (or ‘surname’) is inherited from one’s parents and shared with other members of the individual’s immediate family. Thai names are traditionally patrilineal, whereby children inherit their father’s family name at birth.