{"id":729,"date":"2020-11-13T07:12:08","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T23:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/?p=729"},"modified":"2023-08-15T12:55:28","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T04:55:28","slug":"common-chinese-surnames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/common-chinese-surnames\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultural Roots: Tracing Common Chinese Surnames"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you meet a new friend, the very first thing might be introducing each other. But when you meet Chinese people, do you feel difficult to memorize Chinese names<\/strong>? Don\u2019t worry. We are here to help you out! The most common Chinese surnames<\/span><\/strong> have been listed below. If you would like to know more, the Chinese surname ranking in 2020<\/span><\/strong> is also provided here. If you want to get a Chinese nickname, don\u2019t miss out this blog!! How to Get and Use Chinese Nicknames<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top 5 Chinese surnames<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u4e2d\u56fd\u4e94\u5927\u59d3\u6c0f<\/strong> (zh\u014dng gu\u00f3 w\u01d4 d\u00e0 x\u00ecng sh\u00ec)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \u738b(w\u00e1ng)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to official data released in January 2019, the population of the surname \u738b in China mainland reached 101.5 million in 2018, making it the country’s largest surname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The character \u738b<\/strong> means king. It is composed of three horizontal lines (\u4e09\u6a2a, s\u0101n h\u00e9ng) and one vertical line (\u4e00\u7ad6, y\u012b sh\u00f9). The three horizontal lines represent the sky (\u5929, ti\u0101n), the earth (\u5730, d\u00ec) and the man (\u4eba, r\u00e9n), and the vertical line runs through the sky, the earth, and the man. Hence \u738bmeans the sky, the earth, and the man are all controlled by the “king”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three famous Chinese celebrities with the surname \u738b can be \u738b\u83f2 (w\u00e1ng f\u0113i, singer\/actress), \u738b\u529b\u5b8f (w\u00e1ng l\u00ec h\u00f3ng, singer), and \u738b\u5b9d\u5f3a (w\u00e1ng b\u01ceo qi\u00e1ng, comedy actor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. \u674e(l\u01d0)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The surname \u674e, according to the official data, in 2018 the population of China\u2019s surname \u674e reached 100.9 million, making it the second-largest surname in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The surname \u674e is originated from totem worship, with plum trees as the totem. Based on the composition of the character \u674e, we often say \u201c\u6728\u5b50\u674e\u201d (m\u00f9 z\u01d0 l\u01d0) when we introduce the surname \u674e. The spelling of \u674e in China mainland is Li. You might also see the people in Hong Kong have a surname \u674e with the spelling \u201cLee\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u674e\u767d (l\u01d0 b\u00e1i) is a famous poet in China. \u674e\u8fde\u6770 (l\u01d0 li\u00e1n ji\u00e9, Jet Li) is a Chinese film actor known for his action films. \u674e\u51b0\u51b0 (l\u01d0 b\u012bng b\u012bng) is an actress who developed her career in Hollywood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. \u5f20(zh\u0101ng)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to data released in January 2019, the total population of the surname \u5f20reached 95.4 million, ranking third among Chinese surnames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original meaning of \u5f20 is the string is stretched on the bow and the bow is about to be opened. The extended meaning can be bowing, stretching, etc. \u5f20 is also a name of stars which arrangement looks like a bow. The clans who were good at making bows and arrows worshipped this primordial totem, whereby \u5f20 became a surname. Based on the composition of the character \u5f20, we often say \u201c\u5f13\u957f\u5f20\u201d (g\u014dng ch\u00e1ng zh\u0101ng) when we introduce the surname \u5f20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three famous Chinese celebrities can be \u5f20\u9753\u9896 (zh\u0101ng li\u00e0ng y\u01d0ng, singer dubbed the “Dolphin Princess\u201d), \u5f20\u827a\u8c0b (zh\u0101ng y\u00ec m\u00f3u, film director), and \u5f20\u6770 (zh\u0101ng ji\u00e9, pop singer).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. \u5218(li\u00fa)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As of 2013, Liu has a population of nearly 70 million, accounting for 5.34% of the country\u2019s population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on Etymology, it can be deduced that the original meaning of \u5218 is related to weapon or metal. Based on the composition of the character \u5218, we can say \u201c\u6587\u5200\u5218\u201d (w\u00e9n d\u0101o li\u00fa) when we introduce the surname \u5218.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three celebrities with the surname \u5218 can be \u5218\u4ea6\u83f2 (li\u00fa y\u00ec f\u0113i, played Mulan in the film Mulan), \u5218\u7389\u73b2 (li\u00fa y\u00f9 l\u00edng, Lucy Liu, actress), and \u5218\u96ef (li\u00fa w\u00e9n, dubbed “China’s first bona fide supermodel”).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. \u9648(ch\u00e9n)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The surname \u9648ranked 5th in 2018, with a registered population of 63.3 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have got the State of Chen in a dynasty of China. The surname may either come from this state name or other surnames. Based on the composition of the character \u9648, we often say \u201c\u8033\u4e1c\u9648\u201d (\u011br d\u014dng ch\u00e9n) when we introduce the surname \u9648 (you can see the left part of \u9648 looks like an ear, which called \u201c\u8033\u201d \u011br here).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three celebrities with the surname \u9648 can be \u9648\u5955\u8fc5 (ch\u00e9n y\u00ec x\u00f9n, singer), \u9648\u53ef\u8f9b (ch\u00e9n k\u011b x\u012bn, film director), and \u9648\u6167\u7433 (ch\u00e9n hu\u00ec l\u00edn, singer). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chinese surname ranking in 2020<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The top 100 Chinese surnames in 2020 are shown below. In China, we call this top 100 ranking as \u201c\u767e\u5bb6\u59d3<\/strong>\u201d (b\u01cei ji\u0101 x\u00ecng). In this list, each Chinese character is a surname. (We also have got two-character surnames which will be mentioned later down to the bottom.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 1~4:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u738b \u674e \u5f20 \u5218<\/p>\n\n\n\n

w\u00e1ng l\u01d0 zh\u0101ng li\u00fa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 5~8:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u9648 \u6768 \u9ec4 \u8d75<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ch\u00e9n y\u00e1ng hu\u00e1ng zh\u00e0o \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 9~12:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5434 \u5468 \u5f90 \u5b59\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

w\u00fa zh\u014du x\u00fa s\u016bn \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 13~16:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u9a6c \u6731 \u80e1 \u90ed\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

m\u01ce zh\u016b h\u00fa gu\u014d \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 17~20:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4f55 \u6797 \u9ad8 \u7f57<\/p>\n\n\n\n

h\u00e9 l\u00edn g\u0101o lu\u00f3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 21~24:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u90d1 \u6881 \u8c22 \u5b8b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

zh\u00e8ng li\u00e1ng xi\u00e8 s\u00f2ng\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 25~28:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5510 \u8bb8 \u9093 \u97e9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

t\u00e1ng x\u01d4 d\u00e8ng h\u00e1n\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 29~32:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u51af \u66f9 \u5f6d \u66fe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

f\u00e9ng c\u00e1o p\u00e9ng c\u00e9ng<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 33~36:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8096 \u7530 \u8463 \u6f58\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

xi\u0101o ti\u00e1n d\u01d2ng p\u0101n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 37~40:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8881 \u8521 \u848b \u4f59<\/p>\n\n\n\n

yu\u00e1n c\u00e0i ji\u01ceng y\u00fa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 41~44:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e8e \u675c \u53f6 \u7a0b\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

y\u00fa d\u00f9 y\u00e8 ch\u00e9ng \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 45~48:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u9b4f \u82cf \u5415 \u4e01\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

w\u00e8i s\u016b l\u01da d\u012bng<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 49~52:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4efb \u5362 \u59da \u6c88<\/p>\n\n\n\n

r\u00e8n l\u00fa y\u00e1o sh\u011bn \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 53~56:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u949f \u59dc \u5d14 \u8c2d\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

zh\u014dng ji\u0101ng cu\u012b t\u00e1n \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 57~60\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u9646 \u8303 \u6c6a \u5ed6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

l\u00f9 f\u00e0n w\u0101ng li\u00e0o<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 61~64\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u77f3 \u91d1 \u97e6 \u8d3e\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sh\u00ed j\u012bn w\u00e9i ji\u01ce \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 65~68\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u590f \u4ed8 \u65b9 \u90b9\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

xi\u00e0 f\u00f9 f\u0101ng z\u014du<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 69~72\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u718a \u767d \u5b5f \u79e6\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

xi\u00f3ng b\u00e1i m\u00e8ng q\u00edn<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 73~76\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u90b1 \u4faf \u6c5f \u5c39\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

qi\u016b h\u00f3u ji\u0101ng y\u01d0n \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 77~80\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u859b \u95eb \u6bb5 \u96f7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

xu\u0113 y\u00e1n du\u00e0n l\u00e9i<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 81~84\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u9f99 \u9ece \u53f2 \u9676\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

l\u00f3ng l\u00ed sh\u01d0 t\u00e1o \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 85~88\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u8d3a \u6bdb \u90dd \u987e\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

h\u00e8 m\u00e1o h\u01ceo g\u00f9 \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 89~92\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u9f9a \u90b5 \u4e07 \u8983\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

g\u014dng sh\u00e0o w\u00e0n t\u00e1n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 93~96\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6b66 \u94b1 \u6234 \u4e25\u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

w\u01d4 qi\u00e1n d\u00e0i y\u00e1n \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank 97~100\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6b27 \u83ab \u5b54 \u5411<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u014du m\u00f2 k\u01d2ng xi\u00e0ng<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retrieved from \u767e\u5ea6\u767e\u79d1 \u2013 \u65b0\u767e\u5bb6\u59d3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among these top 100, which Chinese surname is your favourite?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to know more about Chinese nicknames?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Check it out here! How to Get and Use Chinese Nicknames<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese learners use…<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"maayot<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n