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List of common Chinese surnames

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These are lists of the most common Chinese surnames in the Republic and People's Republic of China, as well as among the Chinese diaspora overseas, as provided by authoritative government or academic sources. Chinese names also form the basis for many common Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese surnames in both translation and transliteration into those languages.

The conception of China as consisting of "the old 100 families" (, Lǎobǎixìng) is an ancient and traditional one, the most famous tally being the Song-era Hundred Family Surnames. Even today, the number of surnames in China is a little over 4,000,[1] while the year 2000 US census found the number of American surnames held by at least 100 people to be more than 150,000[2] and more than 6.2 million surnames altogether.[3]

The Chinese expression "Some Zhang, some Li" (张三李四, Zhāng sān, Lǐ sì) is used to mean "anyone" or "everyone",[4] but the most common surnames are currently Wang in mainland China[5] and Chen or Chan in Taiwan.[6] A commonly cited factoid from the 1990 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records estimated that Zhang was the most common surname in the world,[7] but no comprehensive information from China was available at the time and more recent editions have not repeated the claim. However, Zhang Wei () is the most common full name in mainland China.[8]

Greater China Region

Note that – in practice – names are typically written with the tone markings omitted, especially in English-language contexts. Similarly, although the apostrophes in Wade-Giles romanizations mark entirely distinct sounds, they are often omitted as well.

China, Hong Kong and Macau

This list of the top 100 most common Chinese surnames derives from comprehensive surveys from 2007 and 1982. The first is derived from a report on the household registrations released by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security on April 24, 2007.[5][9][10] The second is derived from the 1982 Chinese census whose zero hour was 00:00 on 1 July 1982. Although no list of surnames was published with the initial summaries, the State Post Bureau subsequently used the census data to release a series of commemorative stamps in honor of the then-most-common surnames in 2004.[11][12] Previous partial surveys proved less accurate, as many surnames are clustered regionally.

The summary of the 2007 survey revealed China had approximately 92,881,000 Wangs (7.25% of the general population), 92,074,000 Lis (7.19%), and 87,502,000 Zhangs (6.83%). These top three surnames alone accounted for more people than Indonesia, the fourth-largest country in the world.[13] Detailed numbers for the other surnames were not released, but it was noted that seven others – Liu, Chen, Yang, Huang, Zhao, Wu, and Zhou – were each shared by more than 20 million Chinese and twelve more – Xu, Sun, Ma, Zhu, Hu, Guo, He, Gao, Lin, Luo, Zheng, and Liang – were each shared by more than 10 million. All together, the top hundred surnames accounted for 84.77% of China's population.[5][14] By way of comparison, the 2000 census found the most common surname in the United States – Smith – had fewer than 2.4 million occurrences and made up only 0.84% of the general population. The top 100 surnames accounted for only 16.4% of the US population,[2] and reaching 89.8% of the US population required more than 150,000 surnames.[3]

Rank Character Romanizations Notes
Mandarin Cantonese Minnan Gan Other Former Pronunciation Meaning
2007 1982 Trad. Simp. Pinyin Wade Jyutping HK Other POJ Other Old Chinese Middle Chinese
1 2 Wáng Wang2 Wong4 Wong Vong Ông Heng Uōng Viet. Vương *ɢʷaŋ Hjwang "King"
Kor. Wang ()
Jap. Ō
2 1 Li3 Lei5 Lee
Li
Le Lee
Lie
Dee
Viet. *C.rəʔ LiX "Plum"
N. Kor. Lee ()
S. Kor. Yi, Ri, Rhee ()
Jap. Ri
Phil. Dy, Sy
Lat. Am. Ley
3 3 Zhāng Chang1 Zoeng1 Cheung Cheong
Chong
Tiu Teo, Teoh
Tio, Thio
Tiew
Tong Viet. Trương *C.traŋ Trjang "Bowyer"
Kor. Jang ()
Jap. Chō
Phil. Tiong
Indon. Sutiono, Tjong
4 4 Liú Liu2 Lau4 Lau Lao
Lou
Lâu Low
Lao, Lauw
Līu Viet. Lưu *Mə-ru Ljuw N/A
Kor. Yu/Ryu (/)
Jap. Ryū
5 5 Chén Ch'en2 Can4 Chan Chun
Chean
Chin
Tân Ting Thín Viet. Trần, Chein *Lrin Drin Duchy
of
Chen
Kor. Jin ()
Jap. Chin
6 6 Yáng Yang2 Joeng4 Yeung Yeong
Ieong
Young
Yeo, Yeoh
Yong
Yo, Joe
Eaw
Iōng Viet. Dương, Huan *laŋ Yang "Poplar"

State
of
Yang
Kor. Yang ()
Jap.
7 8 Huáng Huang2 Wong4 Wong Wang
Vong
Ng Eng, Ung
Bong
Wee, Oei
Ooi, Uy
Uōng Viet. Huỳnh *N-kʷˤaŋ Hwang "Yellow"

March
of
Huang
Kor. Hwang ()
Jap.
8 7 Zhào Chao2 Ziu6 Chiu Chio
Jiu
Tiō Teo, Teoh
Chew, Chu
Thèu Viet. Triệu Kingdom
of
Zhao
Kor. Jo ()
Jap. Chō
9 10 Wu2 Ng4 Ng Ung, Eng Gô·, Ngô· Goh, Gouw Ng Viet. Ngô *ŋʷˤa Ngu Kingdom
of
Wu
Kor. Oh ()
Jap. Kure, Go
Misc. Woo
10 9 Zhōu Chou1 Zau1 Chow Jao
Chau
Chiu Chew, Jew
Chiew
Tiu Viet. Chu, Châu *tiw Tsyuw Kingdom
of
Zhou
Kor. Ju ()
Jap. Shū
Misc. Joe
11 11 Hsü2 Ceoi4 Tsui Choi
Chui
Tsua
Chhî Chee
Swee
Shui
Djie, Tjhie
Chhié Viet. Từ *sə.la Zjo Kingdom
of
Xu
Kor. Seo ()
Jap. Jo
Indon. Dharmadjie
Christiadjie
12 12 Sūn Sun1 Syun1 Suen Sun Sun
Soon
Sng Sun Viet. Tôn *sˤun Swon "Grandson"
Kor. Son ()
Jap. Son
Phil. Suan
13 19 Ma3 Maa5 Ma Mah
Mar

Baey Viet. *mˤraʔ MaeX "horse"

State
of
Mafu
Kor. Ma ()
Jap. Ba
14 14 Zhū Chu1 Zyu1 Chu Chue Chee Choo Tu Viet. Châu *to Tsyu Duchy
of
Zhu
Kor. Ju ()
Jap. Shu
Can. Gee
Misc. Ju
15 13 Hu2 Wu4 Wu Woo
Vu
Hoo
Ô·
Aw, Auw
Oon Ū Viet. Hồ *gˤa Hu "mustache"
"beard"

barbarian
tribes
Kor. Ho ()
Jap. Ko
16 18 Guō Kuo1 Gwok3 Kwok Kuok Koeh Koay, Quay
Kwik
Kwek, Kwee, Quek
Kuok Viet. Quách *kʷˤak Kwak "city wall"
Kor. Gwak ()
Jap. Kaku
Phil. Ker, Kho, Kwok
17 17 2
Ho2
Ho4 Ho Hoe Hoh Viet. *gˤaj Ha Kingdom
of
Han
Kor. Ha ()
Jap. Ka
18 15 Gāo Kao1 Gou1 Ko Kou
Go
Koh Kou Viet. Cao *Cə.kˤaw Kaw "High"
Kor. Go ()
Jap.
19 16 Lín Lin2 Lam4 Lam Lum Lîm Liem Līm Viet. Lâm *k.rəm Lim "Forest"
Kor. Lim/Im/Rim
(/)
Jap. Hayashi, Rin
20 20 Luó Lo2 Lo4 Lo Law
Loh, Lowe
Lor
Viet. La *rˤaj La a net for catching birds
Kor. Na/La/Ra
(/)
Jap. Ra
21 23 Zhèng Cheng4 Zeng6 Cheng Cheang
Chiang

Chung
Tay, Tey
Teh
The, They
Teay
Thàng Viet. Trịnh Duchy
of
Zheng
Kor. Jeong ()
Jap. Tei
Phil. Ching
22 21 Liáng Liang2 Loeng4 Leung Leong
Lang
Leng
Niû Neo, Nio
New
Njoo
Liōng Viet. Lương *raŋ Ljang County
of
Liang
Kor. Yang/Ryang (/)
Jap. Ryō
23 24 Xiè Hsieh4 Ze6 Tse Che Chiā
Siā
Cheah, Chay
Tjhia, Tjia
Seah, Shea
Chhià Viet. Tạ *sə-lak-s ZjaeH "thanks"

State
of
Xie
Kor. Sa ()
Jap. Sha
Can. Tsia
Phil. Saa, Sese, Sia
Misc. Shieh
24 22 Sòng Sung4 Sung3 Sung Sòng Sūng Viet. Tống Duchy
of
Song
Kor. Song ()
Jap.
Misc. Soong
25 26 Táng T'ang2 Tong4 Tong Tn̂g Tng Thóng Viet. Đường *N-rˤaŋ Dang Kingdom
of
Tang
Kor. Dang ()
Jap.
26 35 Hsü3 Heoi2 Hui
Hooi
Hoi Khó· Koh, Co
Khor
Khaw
Khouw
Viet. Hứa *qʰaʔ XjoX State
of
Kor. Heo ()
Jap. Kyo
27 25 Hán Han2 Hon4 Hon Hân Han Hón Viet. Hàn *gˤar Han Kingdom
of
Han
Kor. Han ()
Jap. Kan
Misc. Hang
28 27 Féng Feng2 Fung4 Fung Fong Pâng Pang
Phang
Fong
Fūng Viet. Phùng *Cə.bəŋ Bjuwng State
of
Feng
Kor. Pung ()
Jap.
29 34 Dèng Teng2 Dang6 Tang Theng Dung Tēng Thèn Viet. Đặng March
of
Deng
Kor. Deung ()
Jap.
Phil. Deang
30 32 Cáo Ts'ao2 Cou4 Tso Chaw Chou4 Chô Chhóu Viet. Tào *N-tsˤu Dzaw Duchy
of
Cao
Kor. Jo ()
Jap.
31 39 Péng P'eng2 Paang4 Pang Phê
Phî
Pháng Viet. Bành *C.bˤraŋ Baeng an ancienct country's name
Kor. Paeng ()
Jap.
Khmer Pay
32 38 Zēng Tseng1 Zang1 Tsang Chang
Dong
Chan   Chen Viet. Tăng
Tang
*tsˤəŋ Tsong
Kor. Jeung ()
Jap.
Indon. Tjan
Misc. Tzeng
33 30
()
Xiāo Hsiao1 Siu1 Siu Sio Siau
Siao
Siow Sieu Viet. Sieu
Thieu
Tiêu
*sˤiw Sew
Kor. So ()
Jap. Shō
34 58 Tián T'ien2 Tin4 Tin Chan   Tiân Thién Viet. Điền *lˤiŋ Den field, farmland
Kor. Jeon ()
Jap. Den
35 29 Dǒng Tung3 Dung2 Tung Tong Táng   Tûng Viet. Đổng direct, supervise
Kor. Dong ()
Jap.
36 33 Yuán Yüan2 Jyun4 Yuen Wan Un4 Oân Iōn Viet. Nguyen
Viên
*ɢʷan Hjwon a long robe
Kor. Won ()
Jap. En
Phil. Yan
37 52 Pān P'an1 Pun1 Poon Pun Phoa Phua Phon Viet. Phan name of a river that flows into the Han
Kor. Ban ()
Jap. Han
38 28 2 Jyu1 Yue U Î
Û
  Viet. Vu *ɢʷa Hju in, on, at; go to
Kor. U ()
Jap. U
39 43 Jiǎng Chiang3 Zoeng2 Tseung Cheung Chung
Cheong4
Chiang
Chiú Chiông Viet. Tưởng a plant (hydropyrum latifolium)
Kor. Jang ()
Jap. Shō
40 44 Cài Ts'ai4 Coi3 Choi Choy
Tsoi
Toy
Chhoà Chua
Choa
Tjoa
Chhói Viet. Thái
Sái
*s.r̥ˤat-s TshajH a species of tortoise
Kor. Chae ()
Jap. Sai
Can. Chai
Misc. Tsay
41 51 2 Jyu4 Yu
Yue
U
Yee
Î
Û
Ee Viet. *la Yo extra, surplus
Kor. Yeo ()
Jap. Yo
Indon. Eu, Ya, Oe
42 53 Tu4 Dou6 To Do
Tou
Tō· Toh Thù Viet. Đỗ birchleaf pear
Kor. Du ()
Jap. To
43 49 Yeh4 Jip6 Yip Ip
Yeap
Ia̍p Yap Iep Viet. Diệp *lap Yep leaf, page
Kor. Seob/Yeop
(/)
Jap.
Misc. Yee, Ee
44 31 Chéng Ch'eng2 Cing4 Ching Cheng Thiâ   Tháng Viet. Trình *C.lreŋ Drjeng rule, order, regulation, formula, journey, procedure
Kor. Jeong ()
Jap. Tei
45 41 Su1 Sou1 So Sou Soh Souw Su Viet. *s.ŋˤa Su
Kor. So ()
Jap. So
Misc. Soo
46 47 Wèi Wei4 Ngai6 Ngai   Gūi Wee Ngùi Viet. Nguỵ
Ngụy
*N-qʰuj Ngjw+j
Kor. Wi ()
Jap. Gi
47 40 3 Leoi5 Lui Loi Loy

Lee
Loe
Liê Viet. Lữ
*raʔ LjoX
Kor. Yeo/Ryeo
(/)
Jap. Ryo
48 46 Dīng Ting1 Ding1 Ting Ding
Teng4
Teng   Tiang Viet. Đinh *tˤeŋ Teng
Kor. Jeong ()
Jap. Tei
49 59 Rèn Jen4 Jam6 Yam Iam
Yum
Jîm   Nìm Viet. Nhiệm
Nhậm
*nəm-s NyimH
Kor. Im ()
Jap. Jin
50 37 Shěn Shen3 Sam2 Sum Sam
Shum
Sím Shim Sím Viet. Thẩm
Trầm
*l̥əmʔ SyimX
Kor. Shim ()
Jap. Shin
51 64 Yáo Yao2 Jiu4 Yiu Yeow
Io
Iu
Yow Iâu Iēu Viet. Diêu
Kor. Yo ()
Jap.
52 42 Lu2 Lou4 Lo Lou Lô· Loh
Loo
Viet.
Kor. No/Ro
(/)
Jap. Ryo
53 60 Jiāng Chiang1 Goeng1 Keung Geung
Keong
Kiang
Kiu
  Kiong Viet. Khương *C.qaŋ Kjang
Kor. Kang ()
Jap. Kyō
54 74 Cuī Ts'ui1 Ceoi1 Chui Choi Chui
Sam
  Chhoi Viet. Thôi *dzˤuj Dzwoj
Kor. Choi ()
Jap. Sai
Misc. Tseui
55 56 Zhōng Chung1 Zung1 Chung Chong Chiong
Cheng
  Tung Viet. Chung
Kor. Jong ()
Jap. Shō
56 65 Tán T'an2 Taam4 Tam Tom
Ham
Hom
Thâm Tham Thóm Viet. Đàm
Kor. Dam ()
Jap. Tan
57 70 Lu4 Luk6 Luk Lok Lio̍k Loke Liuk Viet. Lục *ruk Ljuwk
Kor. Yuk/Ryuk
(/)
Jap. Riku
58 57 Wāng Wang1 Wong1 Wong   Ong
Ang
  Uong Viet. Uông *qʷˤaŋ 'Wang
Kor. Wang ()
Jap. Ō
59 61 Fàn Fan4 Faan6 Fan   Hum Hoān
Huan
Wan
Fàn Viet. Phạm *bomʔ BjomX
Kor. Beom ()
Jap. Han
60 69 Jīn Chin1 Gam1 Kam Gum Kim   Kim Viet. Kim *kəm Kim
Kor. Kim ()
Jap. Kin
61 63 Shí Shih2 Sek6 Sek
Shek
Seac
Seak
Chioh Chew Sak Viet. Thạch *dak Dzyek
Kor. Dol ()
Jap. Seki
62 66 Liào Liao4 Liu6 Liu Lew
Leow
Liew
Lio
Liow Liāu
Liauw
Liaw
Liow
Lièu Viet. Liêu
Liệu
Kor. Ryo ()
Jap. Ryō
63 45 Jiǎ Chia3 Gaa2 Ga     Viet. Giả *C.qˤ<r>aʔ-s KaeH
Kor. Ga ()

Go ()
Jap. Ka
64 55 Xià Hsia2 Haa6 Ha   Hah Viet. Hạ
Kor. Ha ()
Jap. Ka
65   Wéi Wei2 Wai4 Wai Vai     Viet. Vi
Kor. Wi ()
Jap. I
66 36
()
Fu4 Fu6 Fu
Foo
  Po, Poh
Pha
  Viet. Phó *pa-s PjuH
Kor. Bu ()
Jap. Fu
67 62 Fāng Fang1 Fong1 Fong   Png
Hong
  Fong Viet. Phương *C.paŋ Pjang
Kor. Bang ()
Jap.
Misc.
68 73 Bái Pai2 Baak6 Pak   Pe̍h
Pe̍k
Peh Phak Viet. Bạch *bˤrak Baek
Kor. Baek ()
Jap. Haku
Misc. Bo, Po
69 67 Zōu Tsou1 Zau1 Chow Jao
Chau
Cho·   Chiu Viet. Trâu
Kor. Chu ()
Jap.
70 84 Mèng Meng4 Maang6 Mang   Bēng   Màng Viet. Mạnh *mˤraŋ-s MaengH
Kor. Maeng ()

Mang ()
Jap.
71 68 Xióng Hsiung2 Hung4 Hung Hong     Hiūng Viet. Hùng
Kor. Ung ()
Jap.
72 78 Qín Ch'in2 Ceon4 Tseun
Tseon
Chun
Chon Chîn   Chhín Viet. Tần *dzin Dzin
Kor. Jin ()
Jap. Shin
73 77 Qiū1 Ch'iu1 Jau1 Yau Iao
Iau
Khu
Cu
Khoo
Koo
Khiu Viet. Khưu
Kor. Koo ()
Jap. Kyū
Mal. Hew, Hiew
Chiew
Misc. Chiou
74 79 Jiāng Chiang1 Gong1 Kong   Kang   Kong Viet. Giang *kˤroŋ Kaewng
Kor. Gang ()
Jap.
Misc. Kiang
75 91 Yǐn Yin3 Wan5 Wan       Ín Viet. Doãn *m-qurʔ YwinX
Kor. Yun ()
Jap. In
76 48 Xuē Hsüeh1 Sit3 Sit   Seet Sih Siot Viet. Tiết
Kor. Seol ()
Jap. Setsu
77 50
()
Yán Yen2 Jim4 Yim Im Giâm   Iēm Viet. Diêm
Kor. Yeom ()
Jap. En
78 87 Duàn Tuan4 Dyun6 Tuen Tun Tōa
Tōan
Tn̂g
Then̄g
  Thòn Viet. Đoàn
Kor. Dan ()
Jap. Dan
79 88 Léi Lei2 Leoi4 Lui Loi     Lōi Viet. Lôi *C.rˤuj Lwoj "Thunder"
Kor. Roe ()
Noe ()
Jap. Rai
Hoisan Louie, Louis
80 82 Hóu Hou2 Hau4 Hau Hao Hâu
Jao
  Héu Viet. Hầu
Kor. Hu
(, )
Jap.
81 85 Lóng Lung2 Lung4 Lung
Loong
Long Lêng   Liūng Viet. Long
Kor. Yong/Ryong
(/)

Rong ()

Nong ()

Bang ()
Jap. Ryū
82 80 Shǐ Shih3 Si2 Sze Si See
Seet
  Viet. Sử
Kor. Sa ()
Jap. Shi
83   Táo T'ao2 Tou4 Tou Tow   Thóu Viet. Đào
Kor. Do ()
Jap.
84 93 Li2 Lai4 Lai   Loy Viet.
Kor. Yeo/Ryeo
(/)
Jap. Rei
85 97 4
Ho4
Ho6 Ho     Viet. Hạ
Kor. Ha ()
Jap. Ga
86 81 Ku4 Gu3 Gu Goo
Ku
Kò·   Viet. Cố
Kor. Go ()
Jap. Ko
87 76 Máo Mao2 Mou4 Mo Mou Mô·   Mōu Viet. Mao
Kor. Mo ()
Jap.
88 71 Hǎo Hao3 Kok3 Kok       Hok Viet. Hác
Kor. Hak ()
Jap. Kaku
89 99 Gōng Kung1 Gung2 Kung Kwong Kong4 Kióng Kiung Viet. Cung
Kor. Gong ()
Jap. Kyū
90 83 Shào Shao4 Siu6 Shiu Shaw
Sio
Siō   Sèu Viet. Thiệu
Kor. So ()
Jap. Shō
91 86 Wàn Wan4 Maan6 Man   Bān   Màn Viet. Vạn
Kor. Man ()
Jap. Ban
92 89 Qián Ch'ien2 Cin4 Chin Chee   Chî Chhién Viet. Tiền
Kor. Jeon ()
Jap. Sen
93   Yán Yen2 Jim4 Yim Im Giâm   Ngiēm Viet. Nghiêm
Kor. Eom ()
Jap. Gen
94   Tán T'an2     Taam     Thóm Viet.   *N-r[a]mʔ YemX
Kor. Dam ()
Jap.  
95 95 Wu3 Mou5 Mo Mou     Viet.
*maʔ MjuX
Kor. Mu ()
Jap. Bu
96 54 Dài Tai4 Daai3 Tai Thài Viet. Đái
Đới
*Cə.tˤək-s TojH
Kor. Dae ()
Jap. Tai
Phil. Ty, Tee
97   Mo4     Mok6 Mài   Mok Viet. Mạc *mˤak Mak
Kor. Mo ()
Jap.  
98 72 Kǒng K'ung3 Hung2 Hung Hong4     Khúng Viet. Khổng KhuwngX *kʰˤoŋʔ
Kor. Kong ()
Jap.
99  
Xiàng Hsiang4     Heung3     Hiòng Viet. Hưởng *qʰaŋ-s
*n̥aŋʔ-s
XjangH
Kor. Hyang ()
Jap. Mukai
100 90 Tāng T'ang1     Tong1     Thong Viet.   *l̥ˤaŋ Thang
Kor.  
Jap.  
  75 Kāng Kang1   Hong1 Hong   Khng Khong Viet. Khang *k-l̥ˤaŋ Khang
Kor. Gang ()
Jap.
  92 I4       Yi6
Yik6
  Iak Viet.   *lek-s YeH
Kor. Yee ()
Jap.  
  94 Cháng Ch'ang2   Soeng4 Sheung Seong4 Siông Sōng Viet. Thường *daŋ Dzyang
Kor. Sang ()
Jap.
Misc. Sōng, Thōng
  96 Qiáo Ch'iao2       Kiu6   Khiéu Viet.   *N-kaw Gjew
Kor. Kyo ()
Jap.  
  98 Lài Lai4 Lay Laai6 Lai Lay   Lài Viet. Lōa *rˤat-s LajH
Kor. Roe ()

Noe ()
Jap. Rai
  100 Wén Wen2       Man4 Bûn Mūn Viet.   *mən Mjun
Kor. Moon ()
Jap.  
Other surveys
  • 2006 multi-year survey and study conducted by Yuan Yida, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences's Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, using a sample size of 296 million spread across 1,110 counties and cities and recording around 4,100 surnames.[15]
  • 1990: Ji Yuwen Publishing House, based on a sample size of 174,900.
  • 1987 study conducted by Yuan Yida with a sample size of 570,000.
  • 1977 study published by Li Dongming, a Chinese historian, as "Surname" (《姓》) in Dongfang Magazine.

Taiwan

Taiwanese surnames by frequency:
  陳 Chen (11.06%)
  林 Lin (8.28%)
  黃 Huang (6.01%)
  張 Chang (5.26%)
  李 Li (5.11%)
  王 Wang (4.12%)
  吳 Wu (4.04%)
  劉 Liu (3.17%)
  蔡 Tsai (2.91%)
  楊 Yang (2.66%)
  Other (%)

According to a comprehensive survey of residential permits released by the Taiwanese Ministry of the Interior's Department of Population in February, 2005,[6] Taiwan has only 1,989 surnames. The top ten surnames in Taiwan accounted for 52.63% of the general population, and the top 100 accounted for 96.11%.[6]

Rank Character Romanizations %
of total
pop.
2005 Mainland
(2007)
Mandarin Cantonese Minnan Other
Trad. Simp. Pinyin Wade Jyutping HK Other POJ Other
1 5 Chén Ch'en2 Can4 Chan Chin Chun Tân Ting 11.06%
2 19 Lín Lin2 Lam4 Lam Lum Lîm Lim, Liem 8.28%
3 7 Huáng Huang2 Wong4 Wong Wang
Vong
Ng Eng, Ung
Wee, Oei
Ooi, Uy
Bong
6.01%
4 3 Zhāng Chang1 Zoeng1 Cheung Chong
Cheong
Tiu Teo, Teoh
Tio, Thio
Tiew
Tiong 5.26%
5 2 Li3 Lei5 Lee
Li
Le
Lei
Lee
Lie
Dee
5.11%
6 1 Wáng Wang2 Wong4 Wong Vong Ông Heng 4.12%
7 9 Wu2 Ng4 Ng Ung
Eng
Gô·
Ngô·
Goh, Gouw Woo 4.04%
8 4 Liú Liu2 Lau4 Lau Lao
Lou
Lâu Low
Lao, Lauw
3.17%
9 40 Cài Ts'ai4 Coi3 Choi Choy
Tsoi
Toy
Chhoà Chua, Choa
Tjoa
Tsay
Chai
2.91%
10 6 Yáng Yang2 Joeng4 Yeung Yeong
Ieong
Iûⁿ Eaw
Yeo, Yeoh
Yong
Joe, Yo
Young 2.66%

Other common surnames in Taiwan are listed by rank below. This report is based on the 2005 study. The traditional character is listed before the slash while the simplified character is listed after the slash. The ranking in the PRC (based on the 2007 study) is listed in the parenthesis. The Wade-Giles romanization is also listed first in the brackets, and the Hanyu Pinyin romanization is listed second in the brackets.

11。 許 / 许 (26) [Hsü3,Xǔ]

12。 鄭 / 郑 (21) [Cheng4,Zhèng]

13。 謝 / 谢 (23) [Hsieh4,Xiè]

14。 郭 / 郭 (16) [Kuo1,Guō]

15。 洪 / 洪 (above 100) [Hung2,Hóng]

16。 邱 / 邱 (73) [Ch'iu1,Qiū]

17。 曾 / 曾 (32) [Tseng1,Zēng]

18。 廖 / 廖 (62) [Liao4,Liào]

19。 賴 / 赖 (above 100) [Lai4,Lài]

20。 徐 / 徐 (11) [Hsü2,Xú]

21。 周 / 周 (10) [Chou1,Zhōu]

22。 葉 / 叶 (43) [Yeh4,Yè]

23。 蘇 / 苏 (45) [Su1,Sū]

24。 莊 / 庄 (above 100) [Zhuang1, Zhuāng]

25。 江 / 江 (74) [Chiang1,Jiāng]

26。 呂 / 吕 (47) [Lü3,Lǚ]

27。 何 / 何 (17)[Hê2 or Ho2,Hé]

28。 羅 / 罗 (20)[Lo2,Luó]

29。 高 / 高 (18) [Kao1,Gāo]

30。 蕭 / 萧 (33) [Hsiao1,Xiāo]

Other surveys
  • 1994–2011: The American researcher Chih-Hao Tsai has compiled unauthoritative annual surveys of the most common surnames on Taiwan[16] based on published lists of all successful applicants taking Taiwan's Joint College Entrance Exam.[17] The test was mandatory for college entrance until 2002 and is still quite common, with more than a hundred thousand successful applicants a year and a pass rate for all test takers between 60 and 90%.[17]

Diaspora

Canada

Statistics Canada has not released a list of common surnames for any of its recent censuses, but much of the Canadian Chinese population is clustered in Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria in British Columbia and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and the Ottawa-Gattineau Area in Ontario, as well as in some emerging major clusters, such as the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor in Alberta, Montreal, and the Communauté métropolitaine de Québec (Quebec Community Metropolitan Area) in Quebec.

Ontario

A 2010 study by Baiju Shah & al data-mined the Registered Persons Database of Canadian health card recipients in the province of Ontario for a particularly Chinese-Canadian name list. Ignoring potentially non-Chinese spellings such as Lee (49,898 total)[18]: Table 1 , they found that the most common Chinese names in Ontario were:[18]

Rank Name Total Number Character(s) Romanization
Trad. Simp.
1 Wong 34,567 Wáng, Wong
Huáng, Hwang, Wang, Whang, Wong
Wāng, Wong
2 Chan 32,692 Chan, Chén
3 Li 27,608 Le, Lee, Lei, Lǐ
Lai, Le, Lee, Lei, Lí
4 Chen 25,618 Chan, Chén
5 Wang 22,548 Wáng, Wong
Wāng, Wong
6 Liu 18,784 Lau, Liew, Liú, Low
Lau, Lew, Liào, Lieu, Liew, Liu
7 Zhang 18,003 Chang, Cheung, Teo, Zhāng, Zheung
8 Lam 15,910 Lam, Lín
Lán
9 Leung 13,696 Leung, Liáng
10 Ho 12,830 Hé, Ho
Hè, Ho

Indonesia

Nearly as large is the Chinese Indonesian community. The 2010 Indonesian census reported more than 8.8 million self-identified Chinese, making up 3.7% of the general population.[19] Just as in Thailand, though, previous legislation (in this case, 127/U/Kep/12/1966) had banned ethnic Chinese surnames throughout the country. This law was abolished following the removal of Suharto, but Chinese names remain a mix of Indonesian, pinyin, and Dutch-influenced Hokkien.

Malaysia

During the 2010 Malaysian Census, approximately 6,960,000 Malaysians – almost a quarter of the population – self-identified as "Chinese".[20] They are among the few Malaysians who have a continuous surname, as most Malaysians go by patronymics instead.

Singapore

Singaporean surnames by frequency:Template:Multicol
  Tan
(9.5%)
  Lim
(6.6%)
  Lee
(4.5%)
  Ng
(4.2%)
  Ong
(2.7%)
  Wong
(2.6%)
  Goh
(2.2%) Template:Multicol-break
  Chua
(2.2%)
  Chan
(1.9%)
  Koh
(1.9%)
  Teo
(1.9%)
  Ang
(1.7%)
  Yeo
(1.5%)
  Tay
(1.4%) Template:Multicol-break
  Ho
(1.4%)
  Low
(1.3%)
  Toh
(1.0%)
  Sim
(0.9%)
  Chong
(0.9%)
  Chia/Seah
(0.9%)
  Other
(48.8%) Template:Multicol-end

Ethnic Chinese make up almost three-fourths (2009) of Singapore's resident population of nearly four million (2011).

According to Statistics Singapore, as of the year 2000, the most common Chinese Singaporean names were:[21]

Rank Name Ethnicity Total Number
(2000)
%
(Chinese population)
Character(s) Pinyin
Trad. Simp.
1 Tan Hokkien
Teochew
Hainanese
237,800 9.5 Chén
2 Lim Hokkien
Teochew
Hainanese
166,000 6.6 Lín
3 Lee Hokkien
Teochew
Cantonese
Hainanese
Hakka
112,600 4.5
4 Ng Hokkien
Teochew
106,200 4.2 Huáng
Hakka
Cantonese
5 Ong Hokkien 66,700 2.7 Wáng
Wāng
6 Wong Cantonese
Hainanese
Hakka
65,000 2.6 Wáng
Wāng
Huáng
7 Goh Minnan 56,200 2.2
8 Chua Hokkien
Teochew
54,600 2.2 Cài
9 Chan Cantonese
Hokkien
48,400 1.9 Chén
Zēng
10 Koh Minnan 48,100 1.9
11 Teo Hokkien
Teochew
46,800 1.9 Zhāng
12 Ang Hokkien
Teochew
43,600 1.7 Hóng
13 Yeo Hokkien
Teochew
36,600 1.5 Yáng
14 Tay Teochew 35,800 1.4 Zhèng
15 Ho Cantonese
Hokkien
Hakka
35,000 1.4
16 Low Teochew
Hokkien
31,600 1.3 Liú
17 Toh Teochew
Hokkien
25,300 1.0
Zhuō
18 Sim Hokkien 23,800 0.9 Shěn
19 Chong Hakka 23,100 0.9 Zhuāng
Zhāng
20 Chia
Seah
Hokkien
Teochew
22,600 0.9 Xiè

Thailand

The largest Chinese diaspora community in the world are the Chinese Thais (or Sino-Thais), who make up 12–14%[22][23] of the total Thai population. However, very few of the Chinese Thais have Chinese surnames, following the 1913 Surname Act that required the adoption of Thai surnames in order to enjoy Thai citizenship. Moreover, the same law requires that those possessing the same surname be related, meaning that immigrant Chinese may not adopt the surname of their clansmen unless they can show actual kinship.

United States

The 2010 US Census found 3,794,673 self-identified Chinese Americans and 230,382 self-identified Taiwanese Americans,[24] up from 2,734,841 Chinese Americans and 144,795 Taiwanese Americans in 2000.[25]

Although the Chinese make up the largest segment of America's Asian and Pacific Islander population,[26] the most common Chinese-derived surname during the 2000 census was not itself Chinese but the Vietnamese Nguyễn (Chinese: , Ruǎn).[2]

During the 2000 census, the 10 most common Chinese American names were:[27]

Rank Name Ethnicity
[28]
Total Number
(2000 census; API only)
Character(s) Pinyin
Among
API
Across
All Names
Trad. Simp.
2 24 Lee Chinese 229,200
Korean
6 262 Chen Chinese 100,700 Chén
7 279 Wong Chinese
(Cantonese)
88,000 Wáng
Huáng
Wāng
9 399 Yang Chinese
(Mandarin)
69,000 Yáng
10 440 Wang Chinese 63,800 Wáng
Wāng
11 426 Chang Chinese 62,900 Zhāng
Cháng
12 461 Chan Chinese
(Cantonese)
59,800 Chén
14 521 Li Chinese 55,700
17 626 Lin Chinese 47,000 Lín
18 652 Liu Chinese 45,500 Liú
Liào
Other surveys
  • 2002: study by Matthew Falkenstein, data-mining the 2000 US Census for a particularly Asian & Pacific Islander name list,[29] omitting those like Lee that are common among other ethnicities
  • 2000: study by Diane Lauderdale & al, data-mining Social Security card applications by persons born abroad before 1941 for a particularly Chinese-American name list[28]

See also

Template:Multicol

Template:Multicol-break

Template:Multicol-break

Template:Multicol-end

References

  1. ^ Xinhua Net. "我国汉族公民最长姓名达15字 公安部:起名不规范会有不便 [My Country's Han Citizens' Longest Name Reaches 15 Characters]". 12 Dec 2007. Accessed 16 Mar 2012. Template:Zh icon
  2. ^ a b c United States Census Bureau. "Genealogy Data: Frequently Occurring Surnames from Census 2000". 27 Sept 2011. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.
  3. ^ a b Word, David L. & al. "Demographic Aspects of Surnames from Census 2000". 26 Jun 2001. Accessed 3 Feb 2012.
  4. ^ Prest, Kevin. "X三Y四: Similar Chinese Idioms (Chengyu)". 4 Mar 2011. Accessed 5 Apr 2012.
  5. ^ a b c "公安部统计:'王'成中国第一大姓 有9288万人 [Public Security Bureau Statistics: 'Wang' Found China's #1 'Big Family', Includes 92.88m People]." 24 Apr 2007. Accessed 27 Mar 2012.Template:Zh icon
  6. ^ a b c Op. cit. 中华百家姓-千字文-国学经典-文化经典. "中国台湾姓氏排行 [Taiwan (China) Surname Ranking]". 8 Jun 2010. Accessed 1 Apr 2012. Template:Zh icon
  7. ^ McFarlan, Donald. 1990 Guinness Book of World Records. Sterling Pub. Co., 2001. ISBN 189205101X.
  8. ^ Beijing News. "一个“张伟”找到29万人 [One Name 'Zhang Wei' Covers 290,000 People]". 26 Jul 2007. Accessed 16 Mar 2012. Template:Zh icon
  9. ^ Xinhua News. 24 Apr 2007. "中国姓氏排行 [Chinese Surname Ranking]". op. cit. "天下第一大姓——王 [Tianxia's #1 'Big Family'—Wang]." 14 Nov 2007. Accessed 26 Mar 2012.
  10. ^ Baidu Baike. "新百家姓 [The New Hundred Family Surnames]". Template:Zh icon
  11. ^ People's Daily Online. "China issues first set of stamps of Chinese family names". 19 Nov 2004. Accessed 28 Mar 2012.
  12. ^ 挑灯看剑 踏雪寻梅. "新'百家姓'图腾,快来看看您的尊姓啥模样 [The New Hundred Family Surnames's Totems: Quick, Come Look at Your Honorable Surname's Picture]". 12 Dec 2011. Accessed 28 Mar 2012. Template:Zh icon
  13. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik. "Population of Indonesia by Province 1971, 1980, 1990, 1995 , 2000 and 2010". 2009. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.
  14. ^ Lafraniere, Sharon (21 April 2009). "Name Not on Our List? Change It, China Says". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |rowspan= ignored (help)
  15. ^ The results of this survey were previously published at the National Citizen Identity Information Center's website at http://www.nciic.com.cn/yewufanwei-rksu-mfcp2.htm. However, the link is now dead.
  16. ^ Tsai, Chih-Hao. "Common Chinese Names". 8 Aug 2011. Accessed 30 Mar 2012.
  17. ^ a b Tsai, Chih-Hao. "A List of Chinese Names". 8 Aug 2011. Accessed 30 Mar 2012.
  18. ^ a b Shah, Baiju R. & al. "Surname lists to identify South Asian and Chinese ethnicity from secondary data in Ontario, Canada: a validation study". BioMed Central Medical Research Methodology 2010, 10:42. DOI:10.1186/1471-2288-10-42; PMCID: PMC2877682. Accessed 4 Apr 2012.
  19. ^ Statistics Indonesia. 2010 Census. Op. cit. in "Racism remains for Chinese – Indonesians". The Jakarta Post. 2012-01-22. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  20. ^ "Population and Housing Census, Malaysia 2010 (2010 Census)" (Document). Department of Statistics, Malaysia. 2010. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |publication-place= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  21. ^ Statistics Singapore. "Popular Chinese Surnames in Singapore".
  22. ^ US State Department. "Background Note: Thailand". 3 Jan 2012. Accessed 4 Apr 2012.
  23. ^ US Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. "Thailand". 20 Mar 2012. Accessed 4 Apr 2012.
  24. ^ United States Census Bureau. "QT-P8. Race Reporting for the Asian Population by Selected Categories: 2010 2010. Census Summary File 1". 2010. Accessed 3 Apr 2012.
  25. ^ United States Census Bureau. "The Asian Population: 2000". Feb 2002. Accessed 3 Apr 2012.
  26. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census 2000: Chinese Largest Asian Group in the United States". 4 Mar 2002. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.
  27. ^ Other popular Asian & Pacific Islander names are the Vietnamese names Nguyen (#1), Tran (#5), Le (#8), and Pham (#13); the Korean names Kim (#3) and Park (#15); and the Indian names Patel (#4) and Singh (#16).
  28. ^ a b Lauderdale, Diane S. & al. "Asian American ethnic identification by surname". Population Research & Policy Review 19: 283–300. Klewer Academic Publishers, 2000.
  29. ^ Falkenstein, Matthew R. "The Asian & Pacific Islander surname list: as developed from Census 2000". Joint Statistical Meetings 2002. (New York), 2002.

External links