Vo
A short surname found especially in Vietnamese families, often reflecting a Chinese-style origin or an older family name element.
The #960 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,520 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Vo is most commonly encountered as a Vietnamese surname, usually written Võ in Vietnamese orthography. In Vietnamese usage, it is often explained as an old family name associated with Chinese-influenced naming traditions, though the exact deeper origin is not always certain from surname alone. In some cases it may also overlap with surnames or name elements of Chinese origin rendered in romanized form as Vo.
History
The surname is well established in Vietnam and among Vietnamese diaspora communities, including in the United States. Because Romanization can omit tone marks and diacritics, Vo often represents Vietnamese Võ in English-language records. Less commonly, similar spellings may reflect unrelated East Asian name forms that have been simplified in immigration or census records.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In English-language records, the same Vietnamese surname may appear with or without its tone mark, so Võ and Vo can refer to the same family name.