laos last names are definitely longer than hmong but how many do they have, for example there are 18 hmong clans therefore there are 18 last name that represents each of them. so what about the lao do they have a certain amount of last names or do you guys just make them up like american last names where it can be completely made up.

also can two lao person with same last name marry?

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 2^nd Aug, 2010 at 12:15am:
so how many last names? or is it too many to count? lol

Here are the more common lao names for the curious.

From Wikipedia:

Lao names (Lao: ຊ່ືອ [sɯː]) are given in Western order, where the family name goes after the first given name. On official documents, both first given name and surname are written, but it is customary to refer to people in formal situations by their first name, plus titles and honorifics, alone.[1]

In daily life, outside of formal, international, or academic spheres, Lao people generally refer to themselves and others by nicknames, or seu len—literally 'playnames' (Lao: ຊ່ືອເລົນ [sɯː len]).[2] Much like the nicknames of Thai people (with whom the Lao share a great deal of cultural similarity), the names are often unflattering, although some are based on onomatopoeia, nonsense syllables, or peculiar characteristics. This is largely based on old superstitions from times when health care was not available and there was high infant mortality, as many of these names were supposed to ward off evil spirits from claiming the child.

The French Colonial government mandated the introduction of surnames in Laos in 1943, beginning first with the royalty and the élite before becoming a common practice among the other classes. To this day, among isolated ethnic groups and remote rural villages, it is still possible to find individuals who do not possess a surname.[3]

Both first and surname are a mixture of Pali or Sanskrit and Lao words. The wording comes from variety of influences, such as nature, animals, and royal titles. Lao names are generally made up of 2 or 3 words, but when translated into English span nearly 10-15 letters, for which both Lao and Thai names are known.
[edit] Common Name Components
Name Component      Modern Spelling      Archaic Spelling      Origin and Meaning      
Vong(sa) [wóŋ], Phong(sa) [pʰóŋ]      ວົງ, ພົງ      ວົງສ໌, ພົງສ໌      Sanskrit, 'royal lineage' or 'family', hence this component is a staple in many Lao surnames.
Singh or Syha      ສິງ [sǐŋ], ສິຫະ [sǐː háʔ]      ສິງຫ໌, N/A      Sanskrit, 'Leo' or 'lion'.
Chan, Chanh, Chantha [càn]      ຈັນ      ຈັນທ໌      Sanskrit, 'moon', not to be confused with the tiane in Vientiane which means 'sandalwood'.
Dao      ດາວ      N/A      Lao, 'star'.
Dara [daː ráː], [daː láː]      ດາລາ      ດາຣາ      Sanskrit, 'Evening Star'.
Pha [pʰāʔ], Phra [pʰrāʔ]      ພະ      ພຣະ      Lao, usually imparts royal or religious significance to the following component.
Kham      ຄຳ [kʰám]      N/A      Lao, 'golden' or 'precious'.
Racha, Rasa [ráː sáː], [láː sáː]      ລາຊາ, ລາດ      ຣາຊາ, ຣາຊ      Sanskrit, 'king'.
Savane, Savan, Savanh [sáʔ wǎn]      ສະຫວັນ      ສວັນ, ສວັນຄ໌      Sanskrit, 'Svarga' or 'heaven'.
Phou, Phu [pʰúː]      ພູ      N/A      Lao, 'mountain'.
Sri, Si [sǐː]      ສີ      ສີ, ສຣີ      Sanskrit, 'sri' or 'splendid'.
Keo, Kaew, Kèw [kɛ̂ːw]      ແກ້ວ      N/A      Lao, 'glass', 'precious', 'gem'.
Vora, Worra [vɔː rāʔ]      ວໍລະ      ວໍຣະ      Sanskrit, 'excellent', 'superb'.
Chai, Sai, Xai, Xay [sái]      ໃຊ      N/A      Sanskrit, 'victory'.


And the link if it doesn't display properly:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_name

Very nice to know - my name is Khamchanh - I am 'Golden Moon' - did not know that chanh is moon!

Larb Dip wrote on 20^th Mar, 2011 at 4:18am:

I don't know, but it's a Thai name.

Well, obviously my surname is Lao because my dad is Lao. He just grew up in Thailand.

I also have a little Thai in my family tree. My nephew and niece is mixed with Thai Bangkok and living in Vientiane. I also have some relative who are born and living in Udon Thani.

In the U.S I also have relative who's half farang, Khmer, and Viet.



Admin Saovaluck wrote on 31^st May, 2011 at 2:59am:

Many Thai have Lao Isan or Laos wife. The father is Thai Bangkok businessmen, and run business in Laos. He's pretty rich. My cousin, nephew is doing very well in Vientiane.


Larb Dip wrote on 31^st May, 2011 at 8:05pm: