Cambodia Naming Customs

Cambodia Wiki Topics

Cambodia Beginning Research

Getting Started Online Learning Record Finder Research Strategies

Record Types

Church Records Civil Registration Colonial Records Compiled Genealogies Emigration & Immigration Newspapers Online Genealogy Records Religious Records

Cambodia Background

History Languages Maps Naming Customs Periodicals Social Life & Customs

Cambodia Genealogical Word Lists

French

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Local FamilySearch Center

Cambodia

Naming Customs

Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.

Online Tools

• Behind the Name: Khmer Surnames
• Behind the Name: Khmer Given Names
• Behind the Name: Arabic Surnames
• Behind the Name: Arabic Given Names
• List of some family names

Surnames

Cambodian names usually consist of two elements including a patronymic, which serves as a common family name for siblings, followed by a given name.

• Traditionally, the Khmer do not have Western-style family names shared by multiple generations or entire families. Instead, Khmer children use their father's given name as their family name.
• Women keep their maiden names after marriage.
• Different naming traditions exist among ethnic groups other than the Khmer majority. The Cambodian population is 90% Buddhist and names are often taken from Buddhism.
• Among the Muslim minority, Arabic names are often used as family names.

Given Names

Generally, women are given names relating to beauty, while men are given names of virtues.Some Cambodian given names are unisex names.

References

• "Cambodian name", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodian_name#List_of_some_family_names, accessed 13 March 2021.