Peopling of Laos

The Peopling of Laos refers to the process by which the ethnic groups that comprise the population of present-day Laos came to inhabit the region. Aside from ethnic groups representing recent expatriate migrations, the ethnic groups of Laos are all believed to be descended from ethnicities associated with clades of Y-DNA Haplogroup O, suggesting an ancient homogeneous ethnicity in China some 35,000 years ago which, over time, spread out and independently evolved into diverse sub-ethnicities, branches of which found their way to Laos at different points in history, employing different migration routes and modes of transportation, only after being infused with elements of other cultures along the way, via both exposure and inter-breeding. The result is an extremely diverse population of distantly related tribes with a common Asian heritage steeped in ancient tradition.

Early Arrival of the Aboriginal Khmuic People

The Khmuic people were among the first populations to settle in Laos. They were by-in-large absorbed by the later arriving Mon-Khmer and Tai ethnicities, except for small populations that migrated to the mountainous regions of Laos during the Tai migration into the region.

Origin of the Khmuic

The Khmuic are an Austro-Asiatic people, distantly related to the nuclear Mon-Khmer people. They are believed to have migrated by land from China to Laos, where they have resided for at least 4,000 years. Some 10,000 years ago, they were probably part of a largely homogenous ethnicity now referred to as the Austro-Asiatic peoples with a homeland somewhere within the borders of the modern-day Peoples Republic of China. The prevalence of Y-DNA Haplogroup O among Austro-Asiatic peoples suggests a common ancestry with the Sino-Tibetan, Austronesian and Hmong-Mien peoples some 35,000 years ago in China. Haplogroup O is a clade of Y-DNA Haplogroup K which is believed to have originated 40,000 somewhere between Iran and Central China. In addition to the ethnicities previously mentioned, the progenitor of Haplogroup K was probably the ancestor of nearly all modern Melanesian people, as well as the Mongols and the Native Americans. Haplogroup K, in turn, is a clade of Y-DNA Haplogroup F, which is believed to have originated in Northern Africa some 45,000 years ago. Haplogroup F is believed to be associated with the second major wave of migration out of the African continent. In addition to the ethnicities previously mentioned, the progenitor of Haplogroup F was probably the ancestor of all Indo-Europeans.

Individual Khmuic Ethnic Groups in Laos

The following is a list of Khmuic ethnic groups of significant size in Laos:
*Khmu (Population of 389,694 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Khuen (Population of 8,000 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Mal (Population of 23,193 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Mlabri (Population of 24 in Laos [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ] , also known as the Yumbri)
*O'du [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Phai (Population of 15,000 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Xinh Mul (Population of 3,164 in Laos, including Phong-Kniang and Puoc) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]

Coastal Migration of the Indigenous Mon-Khmer Populations

Like the Khmuic, the Mon-Khmer ethnicities were among the earliest aboriginal populations in Southeast Asia. The arrival of these ethnic groups likely represents the second wave of settlement in Laos, although considerable inter-Southeast-Asian migration has taken place since their arrival, especially during the prevalence of the Khmer Empire in Thailand. Archaeologists suspect that the Mon-Khmer may have spread through Laos throughout the metal ages, bringing rice agriculture, metalworking, domestic animals, and the Mon-Khmer languages to the region.ISBN 9780521016476 A History of Thailand] They are believed to have spread through Southeast Asia from west to east along the coast, and then subsequently migrated inland along the rivers, long before the arrival of the now dominant Tai ethnic groups.ISBN 9780521016476 A History of Thailand]

Origin of the Mon-Khmer

Comparative linguistics reveals that the Mon-Khmer, like the Khmuic, are of Austro-Asiatic descent. The coastal immigration theory suggests that the Mon-Khmer probably first entered Laos from west, via present-day Thailand and Cambodia.

Regional Mon-Khmer Migration Throughout Southeast Asia and Cross-Cultural Infusion

Throughout the history of Southeast Asia, the various Mon-Khmer and other Austro-Asiatic ethnic groups of the region have migrated from one territory to another within the region, for reasons such as the expansion and contraction of political boundaries (particularly during the Khmer Empire), the expansion of individual tribal populations, and the threats imposed by other civilizations in the region. Also, in early days, the Austro-Asiatic were a hunter-gatherer civilization, a lifestyle which lends itself to continuous migration. Along with this ongoing intra-regional migration, there has been considerable cross-cultural inter-marriage over the years between the Mon-Khmer peoples and other Southeast Asian civilizations, resulting in a Mon-Khmer population very different in both physical appearance and culture from other branches of the Austro-Asiatic ethnic tree who migrated elsewhere. Likewise, Mon-Khmer have largely assimilated into the later-arriving dominant Tai population in Laos, beginning at an early stage in the region's history, thereby infusing their culture and genetics into the modern Lao people.

Individual Mon-Khmer Ethnic Groups in Laos

Since the Mon-Khmer were aboriginal to the region, there is great ethnic diversity among the individual ethnic groups. The following Mon-Khmer ethnic groups currently reside in Laos:
*Aheu (Population of approximately 1,770 in Pak Sane Province) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Alak (Population of approximately 4,000 in southern Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Arem (Population of approximately 500 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Bo (Population of 2,950 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Bru (Population of approximately 69,000 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Chut (Population of 450 in Khammouan Province) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Halang Doan (Population of 2,346 in Attopeu Province and on the Kasseng Plateau) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Hung (Population of 2,000 in Bolikhamsay and Khammouan Provinces) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Ir (Population of 4,420 in Saravan Province) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Jeh (Population of 8,013 in southern Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Jeng (Population of 7,320 in Attopeu Province) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Kasseng (Population of 6,000 in southern Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Katang (Population of 107,350 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Katu (Population of 14,700 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Khlor (Population of 6,000 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Khmer(Population of 10,400 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Khua (Population of 2,000 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Kri [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:UWgFu2c51_QJ:www.muonglaomagazine.com/lao%2520citizen.html+Yang+ethnic+Laos&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us The Research and Classification of the Ethnic Groups in Laos] ]
*Kui (Population of 51,180 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Lavae (also referred to as Brao) [http://www.ecotourismlaos.com/activities/taong.htm Ta Ong Trail] ]
*Lave (Population of 12,750 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Laven (Population of 40,519 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Lavi [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:UWgFu2c51_QJ:www.muonglaomagazine.com/lao%2520citizen.html+Yang+ethnic+Laos&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us The Research and Classification of the Ethnic Groups in Laos] ] [http://www.laos.culturalprofiles.net Laos Cultural Profile (Ministry of Information and Culture/Visiting Arts)] ]
*Maleng (Population of 800 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Mon
*Ngae (Population of 12,189 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Nguon
*Nyaheun [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Ong [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Oi [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Pakoh [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Phong [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Sadang [http://www.laos.culturalprofiles.net Laos Cultural Profile (Ministry of Information and Culture/Visiting Arts)] ]
*Salang [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Sapuan [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Singmun [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:UWgFu2c51_QJ:www.muonglaomagazine.com/lao%2520citizen.html+Yang+ethnic+Laos&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us The Research and Classification of the Ethnic Groups in Laos] ] [http://relocate-anyplace.selfip.com/relocate/Laos/Attapu/Ta%20La Ta La, Laos] ]
*Makong [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Sok [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Sou [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Souei
*Taliang [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Ta-oi [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Thae [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tum
*Vietnamese (Population of 76,000 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Yae [http://www.laos.culturalprofiles.net Laos Cultural Profile (Ministry of Information and Culture/Visiting Arts)] ]

Palaungic Arival from Burma

The Palaungic people are indigenous Southeast Asians. The center of their population cluster in present-day Burma and neighboring regions of China.

Origin of the Palaungic

The Palaungic are closely related to the Khmuic. They are an Austro-Asiatic people of Burma.

Individual Palaungic Ethnic Groups in Laos

The following is a list of Palaungic ethnic groups of significant size in Laos:
*Bit (Population of 1,530 in Laos, disputed as to whether Palaungic or Khmuic) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Con (Population of 1,000 in Luang Namtha Province) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Samtao (Population of 2,359 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Lamet (Population of 16,740 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]

Gradual Tai Inland Migration from China

The Tai migration from the northern mountains into Laos and Thailand was a slow process, with the Tai generally remaining near to the mountainous regions within the region, where they were able to use their specialized agricultural knowledge relating to the use of mountain water resources for rice production. The earliest Tai settlements in Laos were along the river valleys in along the northern border of the country. Eventually, the Tai settled the lowlands as well (which were covered with dense rainforest) and displaced and inter-bred with the pre-existing Austro-Asiatic population. The languages and culture of the Tai eventually came to dominate the regions of both modern-day Laos and Thailand. In more recent times, many of the Tai ethnic groups of Thailand also migrated east across the border establishing communities in Laos.

Origin of the Tai

Comparative linguistic research seems to indicate that the Tai people were a proto Tai-Kadai speaking culture of southern China, and that they, like the Malay-Polynesians, may have originally been of Austronesian descent.Sagart, L. 2004. The higher phylogeny of Austronesian and the position of Tai-Kadai. "Oceanic Linguistics" 43.411-440.] Prior to inhabiting mainland China, the Tai are suspected to have migrated from a homeland on the island of Taiwan where they spoke a dialect of Proto-Austronesian or one of its descendant languages.Sagart, L. 2004. The higher phylogeny of Austronesian and the position of Tai-Kadai. "Oceanic Linguistics" 43.411-440.] After the arrival of Sino-Tibetan speaking ethnic groups from mainland China to the island of Taiwan, the Tai would have then migrated into mainland China, perhaps along the Pearl River, where their language greatly changed in character from the other Austronesian languages under influence of Sino-Tibetan and Hmong-Mien language infusion. The coming of the Han Chinese to this region of southern China may have prompted the Tai to migrate in mass once again, this time southward over the mountains of southern China into Southeast Asia via the mountains of Burma and Laos to the north of Thailand. [http://rogerblench.info/Genetics/Geneva%20paper%202004.pdf Stratification in the peopling of China: how far does the linguistic evidence match genetics and archaeology?] ] It is believed that the Tai ethnic groups began migrating southward from China and into Southeast Asia during the first millennium A.D. While this theory of the origin of the Tai is currently the leading theory, there is insufficient archaeological evidence to prove or disprove the proposition at this time, and the linguistic evidence alone is not conclusive. However, in further support of the theory, it is believed that the O1 Y-DNA haplogroup is associated with both the Austronesian people and the Tai.

Tai Ethnic Fusion

Over the years, the Tai intermarried and absorbed many of the other populations who co-inhabited and/or politically occupied the region, particularly populations of Mon-Khmer and Chinese descent. This fusion of ethnicity has led to considerable genetic diversity in the modern Lao people, and has resulted in a Tai population significantly different in culture, language and physical appearance from the Tai ethnic groups who remained in China. In addition, many of the individual Tai ethnic groups have merged under a common Laotian identity, and have adopted a nationalistic view of their culture.

Individual Tai Ethnic Groups in Laos

There are numerous distinct Tai ethnic groups within Laos, making up an overwhelming majority of the nation's population. The genetic stratification of the ethnic clades of the Tai ethnicity is a topic of present debate among linguists and other social scientists. A list of the Tai ethnic groups of significant size within Laos are as follows:
*Lao (Population of 3,000,000 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tai Daeng [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tai Dam [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tai Gapong
*Tai He
*Tai Khang (Population of 47,636 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tay Khang [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tai Kao [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Kongsat
*Kuan (Population of 2,500 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tai Laan
*Tai Maen [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Northern Thai [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tai Loi [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tai Long [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Dai (Population of 134,100 in Laos [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ] including the Lu and Nhuon people))
*Northeastern Thai (including the Tai Kaleun and Isan people)
*Tai Nuea [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Nung [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Nyaw
*Tai Pao [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tai Peung
*Phuan (Population of 106,099 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Phutai (Population of 154,400 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Pu Ko [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Rien [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Saek [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Tai Sam
*Tai Yo
*Tayten
*Thai (Central Thai)
*Yoy [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Zhuang (including the Nung people)
*Shan
*Yang [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:UWgFu2c51_QJ:www.muonglaomagazine.com/lao%2520citizen.html+Yang+ethnic+Laos&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us The Research and Classification of the Ethnic Groups in Laos] ]

Hmong-Mien Migration from China

The Hmong-Mien generally migrated from China into Laos over a wide time span. An exception is the Iu Mien ethnic group, who apparently passed through Vietnam during the thirteenth century, prior to entering Laos. [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1963483 Genetic variation in Northern Thailand Hill Tribes: origins and relationships with social structure and linguistic differences] ]

Origin of the Hmong-Mien

The primary homeland of the Hmong-Mien ethnicity is said to be Kweichow, in the Yunnan Province of south-eastern China, where they settled least 2000 years ago. [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1963483 Genetic variation in Northern Thailand Hill Tribes: origins and relationships with social structure and linguistic differences] ] The Y-DNA haplogroup O3, strongly associated with the Hmong-Mien suggests that they were originally of the same stock as the Sino-Tibetan people, likely originating from a common ancestral heritage in central China some 10,000 years ago. However, linguists have been unable to confirm any definitive linguistic relationship between the two language families thus far.

Individual Hmong-Mien Ethnic Groups in Laos

*Hmong Daw (Population of 169,800 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Hmong Njua (Population of 145,600 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Iu Mien (Population of 20,250, also called Yao) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Kim Mun (Population of 4,500 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]

Continuous Diverse Chinese Immigration

The history of Chinese immigration to Laos dates back many centuries, [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ] and the specific Chinese ethnic groups which made their way to Laos are numerous, although there is a greater concentration of Chinese from the southern provinces due to their geographic proximity to Laos.

Origin of the Chinese

The Chinese are of Sino-Tibetan ancestry, and are therefore distantly related to the Tibeto-Burman people.

Lolo Migration from Tibet via Burma

The Lolo are believed to be descended from the ancient Qiang people of western China, who are also said to be the ancestors of the Tibetan, Naxi and Qiang peoples. They migrated from Southeastern Tibet through Sichuan and into Yunnan Province, where their largest populations can be found today.

Origin of the Lolo

The Lolo (also commonly referred to as the Yi) is one of the two distinct Tibeto-Burmese ethnicities within present-day Laos, along with the Kado. The Lolo are believed to have migrated southeast from Burma into Laos and Thailand.

Individual Loloish Ethnic Groups in Laos

A list of the Loloish ethnic groups of significant size within Laos are as follows:
*Kaw (Population of approximately 58,000 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Hani (Population of 1,122 in Phongsali Province) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Kaduo (Population of 5,000 on Laos-China border) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Lahu (Population of 8,702 in Laos, also referred to as Museu) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Lahu Shi (Population of 3,240 in Laos) [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Phana [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Phunoi [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]
*Si La [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]

Kado Migration from China

The Kado are an ethnic group with a population of 225 in northern Phongsali Province of Laos. [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ] They likely arrived in Laos via China.

Origin of the Kado

The Kado are a Tibeto-Burman people, distantly related to the Lolo.

References