Chinese compound surname
A Chinese compound surname is a Chinese surname using more than one character. Many of these surnames derive from noble and official titles, professions, place names and other areas, to serve for a purpose. Some are originally non-Han, while others were created by joining two one-character family names. Only a few of these names (e.g. Ouyang, Shangguan, Sima, Situ) survive in modern times. Many clans eventually took on a single-character surname for various reasons. A small minority of Koreans and Vietnamese also have compound surnames.
Compound surnames
(listed alphabetically by their Mandarin pinyin spellings)
| Chinese characters | Meaning/Origin | Origin | Mandarin (Pinyin) |
Cantonese (Jyutping) |
Vietnamese | Korean | Japanese | Notable people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 愛新覺羅 (爱新觉罗) |
Gold | Manchu | 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 | 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 | Empress Dugu | |
| 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) 穀粱 (谷粱) |
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 | 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 | Hoàng Phủ | Hwangbo (황보) |
Kōfu | Huangfu Song | |
| 呼延 | Xianbei | Hūyán | Fu1 Jin4 | Hô Diên | Ho-yeon (호연) |
Koen | Empress Huyan | |
| 令狐 | Place name | Línghú | Ling6 Wu4 | Lệnh Hồ | Yeongho; Ryeongho (령호) |
Reiko | Linghu Chu | |
| 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 Kỷ | 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 | 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 | 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 | Thượng Quan | Sanggwan (상관) |
Shōkan | Empress Shangguan | |
| 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 | 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 | |
| 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 | Đàm Thái | 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 | Ngọ 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 | Hạ Hầu | Hahu (하후) |
Kakō | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 宇文 | Xianbei | Yǔwén | Jyu5 Man4 | Vũ Văn | Umun (우문) |
Ubun | Yuwen Tai | |
| 長孫 (长孙) | Xianbei | Zhǎngsūn | Zoeng2 Syun1 | Trưởng Tôn | Jangson (장손) |
Chōson | Zhangsun Wuji | |
| 鍾離 (钟离) | A country in Chunqiu | Zhōnglí | Zung1 Lei4 | Chung Ly | Jongni; Jongri (종리) |
Shōri | Zhongli Mu (鐘離牧) | |
| 諸葛 (诸葛) | A branch of 葛 (Ge) | Zhūgě | Zyu1 Got3 | 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 Cừ | Jageo (자거) |
Shikyo | |||
| 左人 | Left-handed man | Zuǒrén | Zo2 Jan4 | Tả Nhân | Jwa-in (좌인) |
Sajin |