Lam Last Name Origin: Meaning, Roots, & Popularity

Michelle Wilson - August 12, 2022

Look no further if you’ve ever been curious about the last name Lam. We’re looking at the meaning and origin of this popular last name, the ethnic origin, and how popular it is in the United States. Lam, like all last names, was identified by the U.S Census Bureau as a surname with more than 100 occurrences. According to census data, Lam is #611 in terms of commonality within the United States.

There were more than 55,000 records included in the 2010 census, increasing by 11,000 in the last ten years. The last name originates in Vietnam, among the Chinese community. The literal transliteration of the surname is woods or forest. Most Lams who left China and settled overseas would have originated in Guangdong and Fujian. Lam is also a common surname held by Cantonese speakers of Chinese background. Large portions of the southern China and Hong Kong populations carry the same surname.

What Ethnicity is the Last Name Lam?

Traditionally, Lam is a Vietnamese surname. The name can translate into Chinese (formally called Lin) and Korean (formally called I’m). Lam is the anglicized variation of the surname. It’s also a commonly held surname of Cantonese speakers of Chinese descent. Statistically speaking, 87.99% of all instances of Lam on the U.S. Census were Asian or Pacific Islander. Additionally, 6.84% of all occurrences were non-Hispanic white.

Famous People with the Surname Lam

Lam Phuong

Lam Phuong was born in Vinh Thanh Van village, which is a part of Rach Gia, Kien Giang Province. His house was facing a river with a temple across the street. Most of his childhood memories featured imagery of small rowing boats ferrying people across the river. His childhood also consisted of ringing temple bells, rice paddles, and s fascination with music. He composed his first song at 15 years old, borrowing money from friends to hire a printing house to rent music. Eventually, he rented a music truck to perform throughout Saigon.

Lam Phuong is considered one of the prominent pioneers of Vietnamese music. In 1954, Lam became famous with two articles, Poor Life and Great Journey. He pushed his musical career further by the 1960s, offering significant financial benefits. Unfortunately, Lam Phuong died on December 22, 2020, following a battle with heart failure and a subsequent stroke.

Lam Nhat Tien

Born on September 3, 1971, Lam Nhat Tien is a Vietnamese American singer. Associated with the music label Asia Entertainment In from 1994 to 2016, Lam was known for appearances in Asia’s Videos and became one of the Vietnamese overseas top male pop stars. In 1994, Lam debuted and rose to stardom overseas. He was also Asia Entertainment Inc.’s best-selling male pop artist. To date, he’s considered one of the most talented and successful overseas Vietnamese signers of his generation.

Lam Nguon Tanh

As a Rear Admiral, Lam Nguon Tanh was born on October 18, 1928. He was the last Chief of Naval Operations of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam war. In 1974, he took part in the Battle of Hoang Sa between South Vietnam and China. After this time, Lam gained asylum in the United States after the fall of Saigon in 1975. From there, he worked as a naval architect at the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Lam was a devout Anti-Communist, continuing his work with Vietnamese exile groups. In 2005, he was elected as Prime Minister of The Government of Free Vietnam.

Thich Quang Duc

Born Lam Van Tuc, this gentleman was a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddist monk who burned himself to death at a busy intersection on June 11, 1963. He was protesting the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government, led by a staunch Roman Catholic. Photographs of his self-immolation have circulated the globe, generating more emotion in a single image than any other.

His act pushed international pressure on Diem and led him to reforms to mollify the Buddhists. The promised reforms weren’t implemented, leading to a severe deterioration of the dispute. Eventually, a U.S.-backed coup toppled Diem, who was assassinated on November 2, 1963.

Jaffa Lam

Born in 1973, Jaffa Lam is a Chinese visual artist. She is well-known for mixed-media sculptures and site-specific works. Lam regularly uses recycled materials to create her art, focusing on community engagement and socially responsible art. Since then, Lam has done many different community-driven projects. She received the Asian Cultural Council’s Desiree and Hans Michael Jebsen Fellowship. Her works are acquired by public institutions, including the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is also known as an educator. Currently, Lam is the Academic Head of the Hong Kong Art School.

Tuan Lam

Tuan Lam was born on January 1, 1966, in Vietnam. He is a Vietnamese Canadian professional poker player. Lam left Vietnam at 17, ending up in a refugee camp for two years. Lam made the final table of the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event, outlasting 6,358 players. He finished second to Jerry Yang.

Carrie Lam

Carrie Lam is a retired Hong Kong politician who served as the Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2017 to 2022. She also served as Chief Secretary for Administration between 2012 and 2017. Finally, she served as the Secretary for Development between 2007 and 2012. After graduating from the University of Hong Kong, Lam joined the British Hong Kon civil service and served various government agencies.

Lam’s administration was known for controversies, including the trial and imprisonment of democracy activists, disqualifying pro-democracy candidates, and the criminalization of the Hong Kong National Party. Her government was also seriously criticized for raising the qualification age for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (including handling the cross-harbor tunnel toll plan).

Karena Lam

This Taiwanese Canadian actress and singer are based in Hong Kong. She won the Best Actress award at the Golden Horse Awards for her role in the movie Zinnia Flower. Karena Lam was the first person ever to have won all of the Golden Horse awards: Best Supporting Actress, Best Lead Actress, and Best New Performer. Lam is also an artist, ambassador, and curator of Le French May. She handpicked the selection of iconic French movies for this cinema program. Her exhibitions included Inoue Yuichi Solo Exhibition and Watanabe Mayumi Solo Exhibition ‘Send in the Clowns.’ 

Conclusion

As a traditional Vietnamese surname, Lam is statistically attached to 87.99% of Asian ethnicity. Additionally, various translated versions of the last name include Chinese, Cantonese, and Korean dialects. Learning the history of your surname is part of the fun of unveiling your family’s history.