From “Tueng Nang” To “Siam Loh Nang”: The Forming of Chinese Surname into Thai of Chinese Thai in Muang District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

This article aims to analyze and investigate the criteria used in forming Thai surname of Chinese people in Khon Kaen by using purposive sampling data collecting to collect 160 Thai and Chinese surname of Chinese-Thai people which showed on public board in Huaqiao school and Khon Kaen Samakee Uthit Foundation. The result of the study found that there were 2 ways of forming 1) to retain the meaning or sound of the original surname (n=86, 53.7%) 2) new name coining without any relation with the old Chinese name (n=74, 46.3%). The first way of froming is variaty in term of appearance and format than the second one. Moreover, the local identity and occupation identity were found in forming Thai surname of Chinese-Thai people in Muang district, Khon Kaen Province.