The Most Popular Last Name in China, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the last name you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 19, 2024 07:16
In a country as populous as China, understanding the commonality and distribution of last names can provide unique insights into cultural and historical trends shaping the nation. As people from different regions vote for last names they consider significant, a clearer picture of both regional diversity and common bonds emerges through these rankings.
This dynamic aggregation of public opinion not only illuminates the frequency of each surname but also encourages a broader participation in cultural recognition. By voting on this list, users contribute to a collective effort that highlights the rich tapestry of Chinese heritage and its influence across generations.
What Is the Most Popular Last Name in China?
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184votes
LiliCharlie · CC BY-SA 3.0This is the most common surname in China and is shared by over 90 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Zhou dynasty and was used by the royal family.Wang 王 is the most common last name in China. It is a surname that originated in ancient China and has been passed down through generations. It is derived from the Chinese character '王' which means 'king' or 'monarch'. This surname is very prominent in Chinese history and holds great significance in Chinese culture.- Meaning: 'Wang' means 'king' or 'monarch' in Chinese
- Popularity: It is the most common last name in China
- Origin: Derived from ancient China
- Variations: Different romanized variations include 'Wong' and 'Huang'
- Historical Significance: Many influential figures in Chinese history bore the surname 'Wang'
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223votes
Lee Sau Dan (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0This is the second most popular surname in China and is shared by over 80 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Tang dynasty and was used by high-ranking officials.Li (李) is one of the most common last names in China and is derived from the Chinese character 李. It is a single-syllable last name pronounced as 'lee' in Mandarin. The origin of the Li surname can be traced back to ancient China, during the Zhou Dynasty.- Pronunciation: Lee
- Character: 李
- Origin: Zhou Dynasty
- Syllables: Single
- Popularity: High
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322votesThis is the third most common surname in China and is shared by over 70 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Han dynasty and was used by imperial officials.Zhang (張) is one of the most popular last names in China. It is derived from the Chinese character 张, which means 'stretch' or 'extend'. The surname Zhang is of ancient origin and has a long history in Chinese culture.
- Origin: Ancient China
- Meaning: Stretch or Extend
- Pinyin: Zhang
- Simplified Chinese: 张
- Traditional Chinese: 張
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419votesThis is the fourth most popular surname in China and is shared by over 60 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Western Han dynasty and was used by imperial officials.Liu (刘) is one of the most popular last names in China. It is the fourth most common surname in China, with a significant presence throughout the country.
- Pronunciation: Liu
- Chinese Character: 刘
- Meaning: The surname Liu originated from the ancient state of Liu by the Yellow River and means 'kill' in its original form. Over time, it has taken on various meanings and interpretations.
- Popularity: Liu is one of the most popular surnames in China, with millions of people belonging to the Liu clan.
- Historical Significance: The Liu surname has a rich history spanning over thousands of years. It is associated with many prominent historical figures, including Emperor Wu of Han and the 11th-century statesman Liu Yong.
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512votes
Silvergoat at English Wikipedia · Public domainThis is the fifth most common surname in China and is shared by over 50 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Zhou dynasty and was used by the royal family.The last name Chen (陈) is one of the most popular surnames in China. It is pronounced 'Chén' in Mandarin. This surname has a long history and is derived from the Chen Kingdom during the Zhou Dynasty. It is believed to be originated from the ancient surname Zhong. Chen is widely distributed across different regions in China and is also common among Chinese communities around the world.- Pronunciation: Chén
- Origin: Chen Kingdom, Zhou Dynasty
- Distribution: China and Chinese communities worldwide
- Popularity: One of the most popular surnames in China
- Written Form: 陈 (Simplified Chinese), 陳 (Traditional Chinese)
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67votes
Hintha · CC0This is the sixth most popular surname in China and is shared by over 40 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Zhou dynasty and was used by the royal family.Yang (杨) is one of the most popular last names in China. It is a common surname with a long history and widespread usage throughout the country. The name 'Yang' has both historical and cultural significance, and it holds a prominent position in Chinese society.- Pronunciation: Yáng
- Meaning: The Chinese character '杨' represents a willow tree, symbolizing flexibility and resilience.
- Distribution: Yang is particularly prevalent in northern China and has a significant presence in other regions as well.
- Population: As of 2019, there were over 29 million individuals with the last name Yang in China.
- Historical Significance: The Yang clan played a notable role in Chinese history, with several influential figures bearing the name.
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714votes
Wu 吴
Chinese civilizationThis is the seventh most common surname in China and is shared by over 30 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Zhou dynasty and was used by the royal family.The last name 'Wu' (吴) is one of the most popular and widespread surnames in China. It has a rich history and is commonly found among ethnic Han Chinese.- Pronunciation: 'Wu' is pronounced as 'wu' in Mandarin Chinese.
- Origin: The surname Wu dates back to ancient China and is believed to have originated from the name of an ancient state known as Wu during the Zhou Dynasty.
- Meaning: The character 吴 symbolizes the 'Mulberry' tree or 'Awakening'; it can have different meanings based on different origins.
- Distribution: The Wu surname is prevalent throughout China, with significant concentrations in provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian.
- Population: The Wu surname has a significant population, with millions of individuals bearing this surname in China.
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89votes
LiliCharlie · CC BY-SA 3.0This is the eighth most popular surname in China and is shared by over 20 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Shang dynasty and was used by the royal family.Huang 黄 is one of the most popular last names in China and is widely recognized across the country. It has a long history and is associated with various notable figures and families.- Origin: The surname Huang can be traced back to ancient times, and it is believed to have originated from the descendants of the legendary Yellow Emperor Huangdi.
- Meaning: Huang 黄 translates to 'yellow' in English, symbolizing vitality, positivity, and royal status.
- Pronunciation: The surname Huang is pronounced as 'hwahng' in Mandarin Chinese.
- Popularity: Huang is one of the most common surnames in China, ranked third in terms of population and prevalence.
- Historical Significance: Throughout history, individuals with the surname Huang have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, military, literature, and the arts.
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911votes
the family whose surname is zhao · Public domainThis is the ninth most common surname in China and is shared by over 15 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Spring and Autumn period and was used by the royal family.Zhao (赵) is one of the most common last names in China. It is an ancient Chinese surname with a long history and widespread presence throughout the country. The name 'Zhao' has significance in Chinese culture and symbolizes nobility and royalty.- Meaning: Zhao (赵) means 'to shine' or 'to illuminate' in Chinese.
- Origins: The Zhao surname originated from the state of Zhao during the Spring and Autumn period (771–476 BC) in ancient China.
- Popularity: Zhao is one of the most common Chinese surnames, with millions of people bearing this name.
- Distribution: The Zhao surname is widespread throughout China, with significant concentrations in Henan, Shandong, Hebei, and other provinces.
- Historical Figures: Some notable historical figures with the last name Zhao include Zhao Yun, a general of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period, and Zhao Tuo, a military leader who founded the independent state of Nanyue in ancient southern China.
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105votes
Xu 徐
UnspecifiedThis is the tenth most popular surname in China and is shared by over 10 million people. It is believed to have originated from the Han dynasty and was used by imperial officials.Xu (徐) is a common last name in China, with a long history and widespread distribution throughout the country. It is derived from the ancient state of Xu during the Spring and Autumn Period in Chinese history.- Origin: Derived from the ancient state of Xu during the Spring and Autumn Period
- Pronunciation: Xu (shǔ) in Mandarin, Tseoi in Cantonese
- Meaning: Orderly, peaceful, or idle
- Distribution: Widely distributed throughout China
- Population: One of the most common surnames in China
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular last name
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Population SizeDetermine the number of people with a particular last name. The more people with a certain last name, the more popular it is.
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Geographic DistributionAnalyze the areas where a specific last name is commonly found. Some last names might be more popular in specific regions or provinces within China.
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Historical OriginSome last names have a long history and are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, which could be a factor in their popularity.
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Cultural SignificanceLast names with significant cultural, mythological, or historical meanings may be more popular than others. These names may hold special value in Chinese culture, which could contribute to their popularity.
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Migration PatternsConsider the migration history of Chinese surnames, as it can influence the distribution and popularity of certain last names in different regions of China and among overseas Chinese communities.
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Variations and SpellingsDue to dialects and different romanization methods, some Chinese last names may have different variations and spellings. Make sure to include these variants when counting the overall popularity of a particular last name.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular last name in China. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or surname is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1786 views
- 206 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each surname once every 24 hours. The rank of each surname is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular last name in china
China is the world's most populous country with a rich history and diverse culture. The people of China have a wide variety of last names, with some being more common than others. The most popular last name in China is Li, followed by Wang, Zhang, Liu, and Chen. These five surnames alone make up over 40% of the Chinese population. Last names in China are often passed down from generation to generation and hold significant cultural and familial significance. Understanding the popularity of last names in China can provide valuable insight into the country's history and cultural traditions.
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