Chinese compound surname
A Chinese compound surname is a Chinese surname using more than one character. Many of these compound surnames derive from Zhou dynasty Chinese noble and official titles, professions, place names and other areas, to serve a purpose. Some are originally from non-Chinese tribes that lived in ancient China, while others were created by joining two one-character family names. Only a few of these names (e.g. Ouyang [歐陽/欧阳], Shangguan [上官], Sima [司馬/司马], Zhuge [諸葛/诸葛], Situ [司徒], Xiahou [夏侯], Huangfu [皇甫], and Huyan [呼延] ) can still be found quite commonly in modern times with Ouyang (歐陽/欧阳), Shangguan [上官], Sima [司馬/司马] and Situ [司徒] appearing most frequently. Many clans eventually took on a single-character surname for various reasons. Chinese surnames with more than two characters are mostly not of ethnic Chinese origin (e.g. Manchurian or Mongolian), and are becoming exceedingly rare to find, but are still in use today.
In modern times, some families are now combining the surnames of the parents to create new names. Some examples of notable clans include Changchien.
Compound surnames
(listed alphabetically by their Mandarin pinyin spellings)
| Chinese Characters | Meaning/Origin | Origin | Mandarin (Pinyin) |
Cantonese (Jyutping) |
Hokkien (POJ) |
Vietnamese | Korean | Japanese | Notable People |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 愛新覺羅 (爱新觉罗) |
Gold | Manchu (Manchurian) |
Àixīnjuéluó (Aisin Gioro) |
Oi3 San1 Gok3 Lo4 | Ái Tân Giác La | Aesin-gangna; Aesin-gangra (애신각라) |
Aishinkakura | Emperors of Qing Dynasty | |
| 阿史那 | Wolf | Possibly Turkic | Āshǐnà | Aa3 Si2 Naa5 | A Sử Na | Asana (아사나) |
Ashina | Empress Ashina | |
| 百里 | Hundred li | Bǎilǐ | Baak3 Lei5 | Bách Lý | Baengni; Baengri (백리) |
Hyakuri | Baili Xi | ||
| 孛兒只斤 (孛儿只斤) |
Mongol (Mongolian) |
Bó'érzhījīn (Borjigin) |
But6 Ji4 Zi2 Gan1 | Bột Nhi Chỉ Cân | Bar-ajigeun (발아지근) |
Botsujishikin | Emperors of Yuan Dynasty | ||
| 淳于 | A small country in Chunqiu | Chúnyú | Seon4 Jyu1 | Thuần Vu | Sun-u (순우) |
Jun'u | Chunyu Qiong | ||
| 第五 | The fifth | Dìwǔ | Dai6 Ng5 | Đệ Ngũ | Je-o (제오) |
Daigo | Diwu Qi | ||
| 東方 (东方) | "East", descendants of Fuxi clan according to legend | Dōngfāng | Dung1 Fong1 | Đông Phương | Dongbang (동방) |
Tōhō | Dongfang Shuo (東方朔) | ||
| 東閣 (东阁) | "Eastern Pavilion" | Dōnggé | Dung1 Gok3 | Đông Các | Donggak (동각) |
Tōkaku | |||
| 東郭 (东郭) | "Eastern Wall" | Dōngguō | Dung1 Gwok3 | Đông Quách | Donggwak (동곽) |
Tōkaku | Mr Dongguo (東郭先生) | ||
| 東門 (东门) | "East Gate", place of residence, from Zhou dynasty | Dōngmén | Dung1 Mun4 | Đông Môn | Dongmun (동문) |
Tōmon | |||
| 端木 | Duānmù | Dyun1 Muk6 | Đoan Mộc | Danmok (단목) |
Tanboku | Duanmu Ci (端木賜), Duanmu San (Phonologist) | |||
| 獨孤 (独孤) | Xianbei | Dúgū | Duk6 Gu1 | Độc Cô | Dokgo (독고) |
Dokko/Dokuko | Dugu Qieluo | ||
| 爾朱 (尔朱) | Xiongnu | Erzhu | Erzhu Rong, Erzhu Zhao | ||||||
| 公孫 (公孙) | "Dukes' descendants", an address of the noble descendants in the Spring and Autumn period | Gōngsūn | Gung1 Syun1 | Công Tôn | Gongson (공손) |
Kōson | Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Long | ||
| 公羊 | Branch of Gongsun | Gōngyáng | Gung1 Joeng4 | Công Dương | Gong-yang (공양) |
Kōyō | Gongyang Gao (公羊高) | ||
| 公冶 | Branch of Ji, from courtesy name of Jiye (季冶) of Lu in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty | Gōngyě | Gung1 Je5 | Công Dã | Gong-ya (공야) |
Kōya | Gongye Chang (公冶長) | ||
| 公西 | Gōngxī | Gung1 Sai1 | Công Tây | Gongseo (공서) |
Kōsai | Gongxi Chi (公西赤) | |||
| 毌丘 | Place name | Guànqiū | Kwun3 Jau1 | Quán Khâu | Gwan-gu (관구) |
Kankyū | Guanqiu Jian | ||
| 穀梁 (谷梁) | Sorghum grains (?) | Gǔliáng | Guk1 Loeng4 | Cốc Lương | Gongnyang; Gongryang (곡량) |
Kokuryō | |||
| 賀蘭 (贺兰) | Helan Mountains | Xianbei | Hèlán | Ho6 Laan4 | Hạ Lan | Haran (하란 |
Garan | Princess Dowager Helan | |
| 赫連 (赫连) | Xiongnu | Hèlián | Haak1 Lin4 | Hách Liên | Hyeongnyeon; Hyeongryeon (혁련) |
Kakuren | Helian Bobo | ||
| 赫舍里 | Manchu (Manchurian) |
Hèsheli | Haak1 Se2 Lei5 | Hách Xá Lý | Hyeoksari (혁사리) |
Kakushari | Hešeri Sonin, Empress Xiaochengren, Songgotu | ||
| 賀若 (贺若) | Xianbei | Hèruò | Ho6 Joek6 | Hạ Nhược | Ha-yak (하약) |
Kajaku | Heruo Bi (賀若弼) | ||
| 皇甫 | Branch of Zi (子), from 皇父, the courtesy name of Huangfu Chongshi (皇父充石) of the Duchy of Song in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty | Huángfǔ | Wong4 Pou2 | Hông-hú | Hoàng Phủ | Hwangbo (황보) |
Kōfu | Huangfu Song, Huangfu Ran (皇甫冉) | |
| 黄斯 | Huangsi | Hoàng Tư | |||||||
| 呼延 | Xiongnu | Hūyán | Fu1 Jin4 | Hô Diên | Ho-yeon (호연) |
Koen | Empress Huyan, Huyan Zan | ||
| 兰向 | Lanxiang | Lan Hướng | |||||||
| 令狐 | Place name | Línghú | Ling6 Wu4 | Lệnh Hồ | Yeongho; Ryeongho (령호) |
Reiko | Linghu Chu | ||
| 陆費 (陆费) | Intermarriage between Lu and Fei (Bi) clans | Lùfèi (Lùbì) | Lufei Kui | ||||||
| 甪里 | Place name | Lùlǐ | Luk6 Lei5 | Lộ Lý | Nongni; Rongri (록리) |
Rokuri | |||
| 閭丘 (闾丘) | Place name | Lǘqiū | Leoi4 Jau1 | Lư Khâu | Yeogu; Ryeogu (려구) |
Ryokyū | Luqiu Luwei (閭丘露薇) | ||
| 万俟 | Xianbei | Mòqí | Mak6 Kei4 | Mặc Kỳ | Mansa (만사) |
Bokuji | Moqi Chounu (万俟醜奴) | ||
| 慕容 | Xianbei | Mùróng | Mou6 Jung4 | Mộ Dung | Mo-yong (모용) |
Boyū | Murong Huang | ||
| 納蘭 (纳兰) | Variant of 叶赫那拉 (Yehenala) | Manchu (Manchurian) |
Nàlán | Naap6 Laan4 | Nạp Lan | Namnan; Namran (납란) |
Nōran | Nalan Xingde | |
| 南宮 (南宫) | Southern Palace | Nángōng | Naam4 Gung1 | Nam Cung | Namgung (남궁) |
Nankyū | Nangong Kuo (Western Zhou) | ||
| 歐陽 (欧阳) | South of Mt. Ou Yu | Ōuyáng | Au1 Joeng4 | Au-iông | Âu Dương | Gu-yang (구양) |
Ōyō | Ouyang Xiu | |
| 沙吒 | Göktürk | Shāzhā | Saa1 Zaa1 | Sa Tra | Sata (사타) |
Sata | Shazha Zhongyi (沙吒忠義) | ||
| 上官 | High official (place name) | Shàngguān | Soeng6 Gun1 | Siōng-koan | Thượng Quan | Sanggwan (상관) |
Shōkan | Empress Shangguan, Shangguan Wan'er | |
| 申屠 | Shēntú | San1 Tou4 | Thân Đồ | Sindo (신도) |
Shinto | Shentu Jian (申屠建) | |||
| 司馬 (司马) | "Master of the Horse" or "Marshall", one of the Three Excellencies from the Han Dynasty | Sīmǎ | Si1 Maa5 | Su-má | Tư Mã | Sama (사마) |
Shiba | Sima Qian, Emperors of the Jin Dynasty | |
| 司徒 | "Minister over the Masses", one of the Three Excellencies from the Han Dynasty | Sītú | Si1 Tou4 (SooHoo in Toisan) | Tư Đồ | Sado (사도) |
Shito | Szeto Wah, Sitoh Yih Pin | ||
| 司空 | "Minister of Works", one of the Three Excellencies from the Han Dynasty | Sīkōng | Si1 Hung1 | Tư Không | Sagong (사공) |
Shikū | Sikong Ting (司空頲) | ||
| 司寇 | "Minister of Justice" | Sīkòu | Si1 Kau3 | Tư Khấu | Sagu (사구) |
Shikō | |||
| 太史 | "Grand Historian", an imperial official title | Tàishǐ | Taai3 Si2 | Thái Sử | Taesa (태사) |
Taishi | Taishi Ci | ||
| 澹臺 (澹台) | Tántái | Taam4 Toi4 | Đam Đài | Damdae (담대) |
Tantai | Tantai Mieming | |||
| 拓跋 | Xianbei | Tuòbá | Tok3 Bat6 | Thác Bạt | Takbal (탁발) |
Takubatsu | Emperors of Northern Wei, formerly surname of Tangut rulers, Western Xia | ||
| 完顏 (完颜) | Jurchen | Wányán | Jyun4 Ngaan4 | Hoàn Nhan | Wan-an (완안) |
Kangan | Wanyan Aguda | ||
| 聞人 (闻人) | "famous person", descendants of Shaozheng Mao (少正卯) | Wénrén | Man4 Jan4 | Văn Nhân | Mun-in (문인) |
Bunjin | |||
| 巫馬 (巫马) | "Horse" | Wūmǎ | Ng5 Maa5 | Vu Mã | Uma (우마)) |
Goba | Wuma Shi (巫馬施) | ||
| 夏侯 | "Marquess Xia", from noble title granted to the descendants of Yu the Great by Duke of Lu in the Spring and Autumn period | Xiàhóu | Haa6 Hau6 | Hā-hô͘ | Hạ Hầu | Hahu (하후) |
Kakō | Xiahou Ying, Xiahou Dun | |
| 鮮于 (鲜于) | Xiānyú | Sin1 Jyu1 | Tiên Vu | Seon-u (선우) |
Sen'u | Xianyu Zhongtong (鮮于仲通) | |||
| 西門 (西门) | "West Gate", place of residence, from Marquessate of Zheng in the Spring and Autumn period | Xīmén | Sai1 Mun4 | Tây Môn | Seomun (서문) |
Saimon | Ximen Bao | ||
| 軒轅 (轩辕) | The (personal) name of the Yellow Emperor | Xuānyuán | Hin1 Jyun4 | Hiên Viên | Heon-won (헌원) |
Ken'en | Yellow Emperor | ||
| 楊子 (杨子) | A branch of 楊 (Yang) | Yángzǐ | Joeng4 Zi2 | Dương Tử | Yangja (양자) |
Yōshi | |||
| 耶律 | Khitan | Yēlǜ | Ye4 Leut6 | Da Luật (Gia Luật) |
Ya-yul (야율) |
Yaritsu/Jaritsu | Emperors of Liao Dynasty, Yelü Chucai | ||
| 樂正 (乐正) | Minister of music | Yuèzhèng | Ngok6 Zing3 | Nhạc Chính | Akjeong (악정) |
Gakusei | |||
| 尉遲 (尉迟) | Xianbei | Yùchí | Wat1 Ci4 | Uất Trì (Úy Trì) |
Ulji (울지) |
Utchi/Utsuchi | Yuchi Jingde, Yuchi Jiong | ||
| 宇文 | Xianbei | Yǔwén | Jyu5 Man4 | Vũ Văn | Umun (우문) |
Ubun | Yuwen Tai, Emperors of Northern Zhou | ||
| 長孫 (长孙) | Xianbei | Zhǎngsūn | Zoeng2 Syun1 | Trưởng Tôn | Jangson (장손) |
Chōson | Zhangsun Wuji, Empress Zhangsun (wife of Emperor Taizong of Tang) | ||
| 鍾離 (钟离) | A country in Chunqiu | Zhōnglí | Zung1 Lei4 | Chung Ly | Jongni; Jongri (종리) |
Shōri | Zhongli Mu (鐘離牧), Zhongli Mo | ||
| 諸葛 (诸葛) | A branch of 葛 (Ge) | Zhūgě | Zyu1 Got3 | Chu-kat | Gia Cát (Chư Cát) |
Jegal (제갈) |
Shokatsu | Zhuge Liang | |
| 祝融 | God of Fire | Zhùróng | Zuk1 Jung4 | Chúc Dung | Chug-yung (축융) |
Shukuyū | Lady Zhurong | ||
| 子車 (子车) | Zǐjū | Zi2 Geoi1 | Tử Xa | Jageo (자거) |
Shikyo | ||||
| 左人 | Left-handed man | Zuǒrén | Zo2 Jan4 | Tả Nhân | Jwa-in (좌인) |
Sajin |
See also
Look up Category:Chinese compound surnames in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.