Surname Viet - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'V'
Viet: What does the surname Viet mean?
The last name Viet is of Vietnamese origin and is derived from the word “Việt”. This word is an ancient Chinese variant of the word “Yue” which was the name of the people who first inhabited the region now known as Vietnam. The word “Việt” is believed to have gradually spread throughout Southeast Asia and adopted as a surname by the Vietnamese people.
The name Viet signifies several meanings, such as “invigorated” or “unstoppable” as in “the invigorated one” or “the unstoppable one”. It is associated with courage, strength, and an unyielding spirit.
The last name Viet is usually mirrored by the first name Nguyen, which stems from the term “nguyên”, meaning “souvenir” or “origin”. Thus, the Viet-Nguyen combination carries both the idea of origins and a deeper spiritual connotation of invigorated faith and perseverance.
In modern times, the name Viet is still being used as a surname, and is found predominantly in Vietnam and other countries with Vietnamese diasporas. It is a popular name that is passed down through generations and retains its meaning of strength and courage.
Order DNA origin analysisViet: Where does the name Viet come from?
The last name Viet is most commonly found in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam. It is one of the most popular surnames in Vietnam due to the historical significance of the country's conquest and subsequent colonization by the French. This has led to the last name having a large number of Vietnamese associated with it.
Outside of Vietnam, the last name Viet can also be found in other parts of Southeast Asia and in immigrant communities from those regions around the world. In Cambodia, Viet is also relatively common due to the large number of Vietnamese people living there from when it was part of French Indochina.
In the United States, the last name Viet appears to be most common in areas with large Vietnamese populations. These include southern California, parts of Texas and Virginia, and Hawaii. It is likely that, outside of Asia, the American Vietnamese population has done the most to spread the name Viet beyond its original geographic boundaries.
The last name Viet can also be found in other parts of the world due to migration, particularly from countries such as France, Canada, and The Netherlands. Even in these non-Asian countries, communities of people with the name Viet have come together to build their own cultures and traditions, giving the name greater visibility around the world.
Variations of the surname Viet
The surname Viet has a few variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. First is the French spelling Viat, which is the most common variant. It is derived from the noun viator, which means traveller or pilgrim. The German spelling is Veit, which is derived from the Old German name Widuccu for a member of a Slavic people. The Dutch spelling is Vyett, while the Latin spelling is Vita, derived from the Latin word vitae, meaning life.
The Hungarian spelling is Vitez, derived from Viteazul, a title of nobility in medieval Hungary. In Scandinavian countries, the surname is spelled Vitt and is derived from the Old Norse víti meaning holy. In England, the surname is spelled Wyat and is derived from a Welsh version of the name, meaning wanderer.
In Ireland, the surname Viet is derived from the Gaelic surname O'Vaidh Gimun, meaning “descendant of the brave one”. In Scotland, the surname Wight is derived from the same Welsh origin. In other European countries, the variants Vaid, Veith, Weid, and Weith can be found.
In the United States, the surnames White and Wait are both derived from the same Welsh origin of Vyett. Other variations include Voat, Veat, Wate, and Wiat. Additionally, this surname is often confused with its homophone, the Vietnamese surnames Vy, Viêt, and Võ.
Famous people with the name Viet
- Ryan Viet Nguyen: a model and actor best known for his leading role in the films Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel and Spree.
- Khanh-Viet Nguyen: the first Vietnamese-American writer to be shortlisted for the National Book Award for her novel, We Should Never Meet.
- Thao Nguyen: a singer-songwriter and leader of the band Thao & the Get Down Stay Down.
- Viet Thanh Nguyen: a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, essayist, and short story writer.
- Ngo Van Viet: an academic, journalist, economist, and political analyst who was one of the longest-serving presidents of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations.
- An Nguyen Viet: a professional Vietnamese-born American Go player.
- Quan Le Viet: a Vietnamese spirit medium priest who founded the Cao Dai religion in the 1920s.
- Manh-Viet Nguyen: a physician, professor, and Senior Medical Director at Allscripts.
- Dat Nguyen: a former NFL linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Chargers.
- Hoang Viet Nguyen: a Vietnamese-born Czech politician who served in the Chamber of Deputies from 2002 to 2006.