Chinese last names are shared by members of the same family and are also known as surnames or family names. In establishing a person’s family history, those names passed down from one generation to another are highly important.
However, holding its origin, history, and meaning there are many surnames in China. According to Chinese names conventions, surnames are written before the given name playing a remarkable role in China’s culture. In this article, we have defined the history and the symbolism of the last names.
Popular Chinese Last Names
Here is a Chinese last names list which are categorized in popularity:
1. Huang
This is the most popular surname in China. This surname has the meaning of “yellow” and has originated from the ancient Huang Kingdom founded in the 7th century B.C.
2. Feng
Popular Chinese last name Feng means “abundance” or “prosperity” in Chinese. It is the surname that has its origin in the city of Feng, situated in the Wei state which existed during the Zhou Dynasty around the tenth century BC.
3. Cai
Cai has its name derived from Cai, an ancient Chinese state. The surname Cai also means “firewood.”
4. Fei
Fei is a Chinese last name among the Chinese community in the United States. It is the Mandarin transliteration of a Chinese surname that means “to cost,” “to spend,” “fee,” “wasteful,” or “expenses.”
5. Lin
The surname Lin most likely comes from the late Shang Dynasty and signifies “a forest” or “tall trees.”
6. Ma
The surname Ma is one of the most popular Chinese last names. It has multiple meanings in Chinese. The most common meaning is “horse,” but it can also represent “bravery” or “speed.”
7. Sun
Sun is one of the most popular Chinese surnames. It has multiple meanings, including “grandchild” or “descendant,” as well as “sunlight” or “brightness.”
8. Chen
In Xiamen, a port city on the Southeastern coast of China, Chen is a popular surname. It has the meaning of “exhibit” or something “ancient or old.”
9. Zhang
Zhang is a surname for Chinese with multiple meanings. It can represent “stretch,” “extend,” or “open up.”
10. Xu
Xu is a popular Chinese last name with the meaning of “calm,” “slow,” or “Xu surname,” and it can also represent the transliteration of a surname.
11. Yang
Yang is the sixth most popular and common surname in Mainland China. The meaning of this is “goat” or “sheep”.
12. Wu
In Cantonese, the Chinese surname Wu is pronounced as Mo. It has the meanings of “martial”, “military”, and “martial arts”. So, Mo is a Cantonese transliteration of the Chinese surname Wu.
13. Hong
The popular Chinese last name Hong has several meanings as “red,” symbolizing passion and happiness. Additionally, Hong can also represent “flood,” symbolizing strength and power.
14. Hsiung
Hsiung is a popular Chinese last name that means “bear”. Bears are often associated with strength and courage in Chinese culture.
15. Ding
Ding is a popular Chinese last name which has a few different meanings. One meaning is “nail,” symbolizing strength and stability. Another meaning is “top” or “peak,” representing the highest point.
16. Qui
Qui is a beautiful and nature-inspired last name that means “hills” in Chinese.
17. Gu
The Chinese surname Gu is derived from a word that means “to care for.” This surname represents the idea of caring for and looking after others.
18. Cui
In Mandarin Chinese, the surname Cui means “lofty” in ancient Chinese. It is also a habitational name derived from the place name Cui, which was a fief granted to Ji Zi, the eldest son of Duke Ding of Qi during the reign of the state of Qi from 1014 to 975 BC.
19. Tang
The Tang family name has a fascinating history as it traces its lineage back to the Tang of Shang, the first ruler of the Shang dynasty. In modern times, the character can also mean “soup” or “broth.”
20. Zhanlan
Zhanlan is a popular Chinese last name which has been originated from two words: Zhan means “bright” or “brilliant,” while lan means “orchid.” So, Zhanlan can be interpreted as a “bright orchid.”
21. Ke
Ke represents the “trunk” or “stem of a tree”. It symbolizes strength, stability, and growth. So, the last name Ke can be understood as someone with a strong and resilient nature, like the sturdy trunk of a tree.
22. Jiang
Jiang is a last name with a rich meaning “rivers”, symbolizing the flow and vitality of water. It also signifies the power of nature and the source of life. Thus, the surname Jiang signifies vitality and life force.
23. Xingyun
The meaning of the last name Xingyun is “luck” or “good fortune”. It transfers meaning, representing happiness, good luck, and auspiciousness.
24. Kang
The meaning of Kang is “health” or “well-being” which represents a state of good health and happiness. Thus, the surname Kang can be understood as a symbol of having good health and well-being.
25. Yinchen
The surname Yinchen is derived from the two words Yin which means “plentiful” and Chen meaning “dawn” or “morning”. So, the name Yinchen signifies a bountiful and promising start to the day.
26. Meng
Meng means “first” or “one who is eminent.” It shows someone who is distinguished or holds a significant position.
27. Eng
The meaning of the popular Chinese last name Eng is “honor,” “glory,” or “dignity.” It is a well-regarded surname in the Chinese community, symbolizing family prestige and status.
28. Jen
Jen is a popular Chinese last name with multiple meanings. It can be interpreted as “responsible,” “to undertake,” or “Jen surname,” and it is widely found in the Chinese population.
29. Chiang
Chiang has various meanings as “river,” “dense,” or “Chiang surname,” carrying rich symbolic significance. The Chiang surname is relatively popular among the Chinese population and is considered an important surname.
30. Kwan
Kwan is a popular Chinese surname with various meanings such as “close,” “relation,” or “gate,” symbolizing connections and relationships. This is relatively common among the Chinese population and holds significance.
31. Ping
The last name Ping means “peaceful,” “harmonious,” or “equal.” It signifies a sense of tranquility, harmony, and fairness.
32. Rong
Rong is a Chinese surname with a meaningful interpretation. This last name translates as “harmony,” “integration,” or “fusion,” representing unity and a harmonious nature.
33. Tzeng
Tzeng is a last name in Taiwan within the Chinese community. It holds the meaning of “once,” “already,” “ever” (in the past), “former,” and “previously,” and serves as a past tense marker before a verb or clause.
34. Wee
Wee is a popular Chinese surname that holds the meaning of “power” or “prestige.” It shows strength and authority.
35. Wang
Wang is a popular Chinese surname that is often interpreted as meaning “king” or “monarch.” The Wang surname is widely prevalent in the Chinese population and is considered a prestigious and esteemed surname.
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Most Common Chinese Last Names
36. Bai
The meaning of the popular Chinese last name Bai is “white” or “pure.” It symbolizes qualities of purity and innocence.
37. Cheng
Cheng is a fairly common surname in China, and it has become a popular given name in recent years. The meaning of this name is “accomplish” and “success”.
38. Fang
In Chinese, Fang means “square” or “four-sided”. It is a common surname and represents concepts such as honesty, fairness, and stability.
39. Ruan
Ruan is a surname among the Chinese community in the United States. It is the Mandarin transliteration of a Chinese surname that has an interesting meaning as a “small state” that existed during the Shang Dynasty in the southeast of modern-day Gansu Province.
40. Shen
The meaning of the Chinese last name Shen is “to sink” or “deep” representing qualities like wisdom, intelligence, and perseverance.
41. Shao
Shao is a commonly used Chinese second name that has its origin in the Zhou Dynasty. The meaning of this is “pottery”.
42. Song
The popular Chinese last name “Song” has a different meaning. It can mean “pine tree” or “evergreen,” symbolizing resilience and longevity. It can also mean “to sing” or “song,” representing a joyful and musical nature.
43. Xie
Xie is a beautiful surname with a positive and grateful connotation with the meaning of “thanks” or “gratitude” It represents appreciation and a thankful attitude.
44. Zeng
The surname Zeng is the 32nd most common surname in Mainland China as of 2019. Similarly, it is also the 16th most common surname in Taiwan which means “high” or “add” in ancient Chinese.
45. Yan
The meaning of the surname Yan is “strict” or “serious,” indicating a disciplined and principled nature. It can also mean “goose,” representing gracefulness and elegance.
46. Xue
Xue is an interesting surname with multiple meanings, including “vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty” and “wormwood-like grass.”
47. Liu
Liu is the family name of the Han dynasty emperors. The term originally meant ‘kill.’
48. Guo
Guo is one of the most common Chinese surnames and means “the wall that surrounds a city” in Chinese.
49. Han
Chinese surname Han has a few different meanings as “Korea” or “Korean,” as it can refer to the Han people who originated from Korea. Another meaning is “charming” or “handsome.”
50. Pan
In ancient Chinese, the Mandarin form of the surname Pan means “rice water.”
51. Cui
The popular Chinese last name Cui means “high” or “lofty,” as the terms associated with elevated or lofty places. Another meaning is “wise” or “intelligent,” reflecting the qualities of wisdom and intelligence.
52. Qiu
In Chinese, the surname Qiu means “mound” or “knoll.” It refers to a small hill or elevated land. So, the surname Qiu carries the meaning of being connected to or associated with a mound or knoll.
53. Dai
The Mandarin form of the surname Dai has the meaning “respect support” in Chinese.
54. Huangfu
The Chinese last name Huangfu originated from Huang meaning “royal” or “imperial,” while fu means “begin” or “first.” Together, Huangfu is “the first or beginning of the royal” or “imperial first.”
55. Shentu
In Classical Chinese, the popular Chinese last name Shentu originated from two words.
Shen refers to “to the ninth of the twelve Earthly Branches” in the Chinese zodiac, which represents “the hours between 3-5 pm”. The character tu can mean “slaughter” or “butcher.” Therefore, Shentu means “the butcher of ninth hour of the day.”
56. Yuchi
Yuchi is a Chinese compound surname which is originated from Xianbei and Khotan. This is derived from the word yu meaning “military officer” or “commander,” while chi can mean “late” or “delayed.”
57. Helan
The surname Helan is derived from the word he, which means “congratulate” or “blessing,” and the word lan means “orchid.” Therefore, Helan can be interpreted as a “congratulatory orchid” or “blessed orchid.”
58. Hu
In Classical Chinese, the character hu has various meanings as “dewlap” or “wattle,” as well as being a variant character for “how,” “why,” or “what”. It was also used in the word Xia, meaning “long-lasting” or “far-reaching,” and in the word hudie, meaning “butterfly.”
59. Deng
Deng is a last name in Chinese that means “lamp” or “light” and also “to ascend” or “to rise,” which represents progress and advancement.
60. Xiao
Xiao is a surname of Chinese origin and has multiple meanings which include “dawn”, “little”, and “reverent of the elderly.”
61. Wei
Wei is a common Chinese surname which means “leather” in classical Chinese. As of 2018, it was the 62nd most common surname in China.
62. Tong
Tong has multiple meanings including “child” or “youth,” as the surname is connected with young individuals. It can also mean “innocent” or “pure,” reflecting the qualities attributed to children.
63. Du
The last name Du has different meanings including “to stop” or “to prevent,” as the surname is related to the action of stopping or preventing something. Additionally, it also means “thicket” or “grove,” reflecting its connection to dense vegetation.
64. Ren
Ren means “to appoint.” It also refers to “Ren,” a city bestowed to Yu Yang, who is said to be the 25th son of King Huang Di.
65. Zhou
The surname Zhou has a toponymic origin and derives its name from the Zhou Dynasty. Zhou also refers to “a week” or “circumference.”
66. Yu
The Chinese surname Yu means “rain” or “rainfall.” It’s a beautiful and poetic meaning for a last name.
67. Luo
The surname Luo has the meaning “gauze” or “net,” as this is related to a fine mesh fabric. Additionally, it has another meaning “gather” or “collect,” reflecting the surname association with gathering or collecting things.
68. Han
The Chinese surname Han has a few different meanings. One meaning is “Korean” or “Korea,” as the surname is associated with the Han Dynasty’s relationship with the Korean peninsula. Another meaning is “cold” or “chill,” reflecting the name’s association with the cold climate in the northern regions.
Unique Chinese Last Names
69. Yep
Yep is a unique last name among the Chinese community in the United States. It is the adaptation of a Chinese surname with various meanings, including “to be in harmony,” “leaf,” “page,” “lobe,” and “(historical) period.”
70. Yoon
This surname means “flourishing”, or “blood red”. It derived from the Shang Dynasty, the second dynasty, also called the Yin Dynasty.
71. Tsai
Tsai is a Chinese last name that is interpreted from the Mandarin Chinese surname Cai. It has various meanings, including “vegetable,” “colorful,” and “wealthy.”
72. Sham
Sham is a Chinese last name that originated from the Cantonese Chinese surname Sam. It has various meanings, including “deep” or “profound.”
73. Tay
Tay is a Chinese surname that can be spelled in three different ways in Chinese. The meaning of this surname is “tea”.
74. Tse
The Chinese surname Tse can be spelled in two different ways: Xie or Tse. It carries the meanings of “to thank,” “to apologize,” “to wither” (referring to flowers, leaves, etc.), and “to decline.”
75. Shih
Shih is the Romanization of the Chinese surname, which symbolizes the strength and solidity of a “stone.” It belongs to the esteemed “Nine Sogdian Surnames.”
76. Mar
Mar is a last name among the Chinese community in the United States. It is the transliteration of a Chinese surname that has meaning as “horse”.
77. Ngo
Ngo is a last name commonly found in Vietnam among its Chinese community. It is the transliteration of a Chinese surname meaning “the area comprising southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang, and Shanghai”, as well as “the names of states in Southern China at different historical periods”.
78. Poon
In Chinese culture, Poon can refer to “a type of musical instrument”, “a kind of water plant”, or “a surname associated with the ancient state of Qi”.
79. Kook
In Chinese culture, Kook can refer to “to a valley” or “a grain field”, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.
80. Leung
Leung is a surname of Chinese origin which can be spelled in two different ways as Liang and Leung. The meaning of this surname is “bridge” or “beam”.
81. Liaw
Liaw is a unique last name commonly found in the United States among its Chinese community. It is the transliteration of the Chinese surname Liao, which means “surname Liao.”
82. Hsiung
Hsiung is a last name commonly found in the United States among its Chinese community. It is the version of the Chinese surname Xiong, which means “bear.” In Chinese culture, the bear is often associated with strength and power.
83. Hsueh
This is the surname that is commonly found in Taiwan among its Chinese community. It is the version of a Chinese surname meaning “vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty”.
84. Jian
The meaning of the surname Jian is “simple”. It was the 382nd surname listed on the Hundred Family Surnames. There are more people in Taiwan with this surname than any single province in Mainland China.
85. Kiang
The surname Kiang is a unique last name found among Overseas Chinese communities around the world. It is the transliteration of several different Chinese surnames Jiang means “river”, Qiang means “strong” or “powerful”, and Jiang refers to “the ginger plant”.
86. Kao
The meaning of the last name for Chinese Kao is “tall” or “high.”
87. Chow
The meaning of the Chinese last name Chow is “circumference” or “surroundings.” It is a unique surname in Chinese culture and has a long history.
88. Fok
The meaning of the Chinese last name Fok is “fortunate” or “lucky.” It is a unique surname in Chinese culture and is associated with positive qualities and good luck.
89. Goh
Goh is a unique surname in Chinese culture that is derived from the ancient state of Wu and has multiple meanings. It can refer to the “Wu River”, which flows through several provinces in China, or it can represent the Wu region.
90. Yufei
The Chinese surname Yufei is a combination of the two words Yu means “jade,” which symbolizes beauty and preciousness, while Fei means “fly” or “soar.” Together, Yufei can be known as “flying with grace and elegance” or “soaring like a precious jade.”
91. Bigan
Bigan is a surname that is related to a high-ranking minister during the Shang dynasty. The meaning of this surname is “completely dry”.
92. Nianzu
Nianzu can be interpreted as “Thinking of ancestors.” It is of Chinese origin and reflects the importance of ancestral reverence and filial piety in Chinese culture.
93. Enlai
The Chinese last name Enlai is the surname of the famous Chinese politician Zhou Enlai. The character En means “kindness” or “benevolence”.
94. Luhan
Luhan is a unique Chinese surname that consists of two characters: Lu and Han. The character Lu means “deer” or “luxuriant”, while the character Han refers to the Han dynasty or the Han ethnic group.
95. Mencius
Mencius is a Latinization (coined by Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century) of the Chinese Mengzi, meaning “Master Meng”.
96. Ang
In Chinese, the surname Ang means “flood” or “deluge.” It’s an interesting meaning associated with the surname.
97. Guanyu
The surname Guanyu originated from the two words Guan means “to care about” or “to be related to,” and yu means “feather” or “wing.” Guanyu refers to a heroic figure in Chinese history, known as the “God of War.”
98. Liwei
Liwei is a unique Chinese last name Li is a common surname in China and it can mean “plum” or “beautiful.” Wei means “great” or “mighty.” Together, the meaning of Liwei can be interpreted as “beautiful and great” or “mighty plum.”
99. Haitao
The meaning of the surname Haitao is “ocean wave” or “surging waves.” It has a symbolic and beautiful meaning, representing the power and magnificence of the ocean.
100. Yibo
Yibo originated from the combination of two words Yi means “he” or “she,” and Bo can mean “elder” or “uncle.” So, Yibo means “he/she, elder/uncle.
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Rare Chinese Surnames
The list of rare last names Chinese are given below:
101. Yao (Brilliant, Glorious, Brightly Shining)
102. Pan Huang (Huge rock)
103. Chong (High, Sublime, Lofty)
104. Gao (High or Tall)
105. Xu Xia (To make a promise)
106. Ming (Bright)
107. Cun (government official, Governmental, Official, Public, Organ of the body)
108. Duan Su (Reviving Section, Awakening Segment)
109. You (Outstanding)
110. Shu (Warm-hearted)
111. Xie Delan (Gracious Orchid)
112. Xia (Glow of Sunrise)
113. Dan (Dawn)
114. Xin (Believe)
115. Bao (Jewel, Gem, Treasure, Precious)
116. Cheng Huan (Illusionary)
117. Chao (Nest)
118. Geng (Bright, Honest, Upright)
119. Ren Liang ( Authorized Bridge)
120. Niu (Ox)
121. Pei (Nourish, Match, Admire, Abundant)
122. Wan (Ten Thousand)
123. Yin (Plentiful)
124. Er (Assistant)
125. San (Mountain, Hill)
126. Wang Lei (Thunder of the King)
127. Jiu (Lasting)
128. Zhu (To live, To Dwell, To stay, To reside)
129. Tan Fang (Skilled In Conversation)
130. Ye (leaf)
131. Dai Ru (To Wear)
132. Xun (Herb)
133. Wancheng (To Complete)
134. Wu Hua (Black Flower)
135. Yin Tu (Ruling Over The Land)
136. Ba (White)
137. Chang (Lasting Forever)
138. Zhao (Beckon)
139. Jin (Gold)
140. Qing (Blue)
141. Liao (Spacious, Empty)
142. Lu Yi (Simple Change)
143. Cao Tian (Sky or Heaven)
144. Zou Li (Plum)
145. Lang Heng (Balance or Equilibrium)
146. Zou Zan (To Walk)
147. Tang Ju (Reside, Dwell)
148. Su Shi (Revive Stone)
149. Cai Yi (Change)
150. Yao Hong (Flood or Vast)
Long Chinese Last Names
151. Huang Cantonese (Yellow)
152. Deng Chen (Chinese Military General)
153. Lai Lingxin (Come or Arrive)
154. Mao Shui (Hair or Feather)
155. Zhen Xinya (True or Precious)
156. Zou Kang (Walking Healthily)
157. Shangguan (High-Ranking Official, Superior)
158. Owyang (The South of the Ou-Yu)
159. Weidong (Great East)
160. Shuchang (Happy Entirely Free From Worry)
161. Yongliang (Forever Bright)
162. Dingxiang (Stability or Fortune)
163. Chaoxiang (Expecting Fortune)
164. Huijuan (Kind Graciousness)
165. Qingshan (Celebrating Goodness)
166. Qiqiang (Enlightenment or Strength)
167. Minghao (Bright, Brilliant)
168. Qingsheng (Celebrating Birth)
169. Huizhong (Gentleness and Peace)
170. Tingfeng (Thunderbolt Peak)
171. Xuesong (Snow Covered Pine Trees)
172. Yongnian (Eternal Years)
173. Dishithis (Someone of High Virtue)
174. Shihong (The World Is Red)
175. Hongliang (Budding, Flourishing)
176. Shoi-ming (Life of Sunshine)
177. Jingguo (Administering the State)
178. Hongmin (Intelligent and Easy-going)
179. Inghong (Outstanding)
180. Guiying (Laurel Beauty)
181. Jun De (Handsome Virtue)
182. Changming (Forever Bright)
183. Jinping (One who is fond of Honey)
184. Xiaojian (Little Healthy)
185. Tingguang (Hearing Brightness)
186. Donghai (East or Pillar)
187. Shoushan (Longevity Mountain)
188. Zhiqiang (Powerful Will)
189. Ming-Tao (Large Waves)
190. Xiao Dan (Dawn)
191. Mengyao (Dream Jade)
192. Zhengzhong (Honest and Faithful)
193. Weisheng (Healthy Hygiene Sanitation)
194. Guoliang (May the country Be Kind)
195. Xiaosheng (Little gentleman)
196. Xianliang (Worthy Brightness)
197. Dongyang (Eastern Sun)
198. Daoming (Virtuous and Bright)
199. Zhi Peng (Signify Someone Who Possesses Great Wisdom and Knowledge)
200. Zhiyuan (Will, Purpose, Ambition)
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201. L I’m (Kill. Destroy)
202. Jia (Price or Merchants)
203. Lee (Plum or Plum Tree)
204. Wen (Literary or Culture)
205. Xiong (Bear)
206. Zhong (Bell)
207. Gongsun (King’s Grandson)
208. Fabu (To Release)
209. Jiandan (Simple)
210. Qiche (Car)
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