These Chinese surnames are used to distinguish families and avoid marriage within the same family.
Chinese surnames or last names are translations of China’s popular family names written in pinyin. This post includes a list of famous Chinese surnames or last names and their meanings. Some of these surnames are based on location, while others come from family, job, or historical affiliations.
Famous Chinese Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings
- Bai
The Chinese surname Bai is a Mongol last name that means ‘white.’
- Cai
Cai is a common Chinese last name in China, originating from an ancient Chinese state called ‘Cai.’ The Chinese surname Cai also translates to ‘firewood.’
- Cao
In China, the last name Cao is frequently used and it means ‘to hold onto something.’
- Chen
Chen is a popular Chinese surname or last name in the city of Xiamen in southeastern China. This last name likely refers to showing something or being associated with something old or ancient.
- Cheng
This Chinese last name means ‘complete’ and also represents ‘order or regulation.’ Other meanings of Cheng include ‘journey,’ ‘honesty,’ and ‘procedure.’
- Cui
The Chinese last name Cui is commonly found in China and it means ‘very tall’ or ‘lofty’.
- Dai
This Chinese surname comes from a word that means ‘to provide assistance.’
- Deng
The Chinese surname Deng is from East Asia and comes from China. It is believed to have originated from the Deng Kingdom.
- Ding
The Chinese last name Ding means a man who is strong and powerful.
- Dong
The common last name in China, Dong means ‘mentor or supervisor.’
- Du
The Chinese last name Du comes from a word that means to avoid or stop something from happening.
- Duan
Duan is an East Asian last name that comes from China and it means ‘a portion or division of something.’
- Fang
Fan is a common Chinese last name in China and it translates to ‘an example’ or ‘a bee.’
- Fang
The Chinese surname Fang comes from a word that means ‘something that is four-sided or a square.’
- Feng
Feng is a common Chinese surname that comes from the city of Feng in the Wei state from the Zhou Dynasty, which was around the tenth century BC.
- Fu
The Chinese surname Fu has ancient origins in China, specifically from the Han dynasty. It was given by a descendant of the Emperor Yellow to his son Fu Yi and later generations. The Chinese surname Fu means ‘teacher or guide.’
- Gao
Gao is a Chinese last name of East-Asian descent that comes from China. This last name signifies something or someone that is ‘high or tall.’
- Gong
The Chinese surname Gong comes from a word that means ‘to give.’
- Gu
The Chinese surname Gu in Chinese comes from a word that means ‘to care for.’
- Guo
Guo is a popular Chinese surname in China that means ‘wall around a city.’ This surname comes from the ancient Xia dynasty state also named Guo.
- Han
The Chinese surname Han comes from a place name and is linked to an old area called Han, now located in the Henan and Shanxi regions of China.
- He
The Chinese surname ‘He’ is a popular last name in China that comes from the Ji clan of the Zhou Dynasty and the Jiang clan of Yandi. In today’s China, ‘He’ is part of the title ‘Xihe,’ which refers to someone who studies astrology.
- Hong
The Chinese surname Hong means ‘rainbow’ and can also represent growth or greatness.
- Hou
Hou is a popular Chinese surname that means ‘Marquis.’
- Hu
The Chinese surname Hu can mean either ‘whiskers’ or ‘wild.’ It can also have an ornamental meaning, as people from the ‘Youhu’ state in ancient China during the Xia dynasty chose the second character as their surname.
- Huang
The Chinese surname Huang is common in China and it means the color yellow.
- Jia
Jia is currently the most popular name for a girl in Korea. The last name Jia comes from an ancient Chinese state called ‘Jia’ in Shanxi province, China.
- Jiang
The Chinese surname Jiang comes from a word that means ‘wild rice.’
- Jiang
The last name Jiang translates to ‘ginger.’
- Jin
The Irish surname ‘Jin’ means a sudden craving or strong desire for something. The last name Jin comes from a word that means ‘Gold.’
- Kang
The Chinese surname Kang means a person who is healthy and has well-being.
- Ke
The Chinese surname Ke means the part of an axe that you hold.
- Kong
The Chinese surname Kong comes from the family name of a well-known Chinese politician and philosopher, Confucius.
- Lai
The Chinese surname Lai in Chinese means to have confidence in someone or something.
- Lei
The Chinese surname Lei most likely means ‘thunder,’ although its exact origin is uncertain.
- Li or Lee
This could refer to the last name of a person, with variations in spelling such as Li or Lee. In China, the last name Li is very popular and it means ‘reason or logic.’ This last name can also represent the plum tree.
- Li
One of the most common last names in China is Li, which comes from a word that means ‘multitude.’
- Li/Lee
The Chinese last name Li in Chinese comes from a word that means ‘to set up.’
- Liang
Liang is a Chinese last name from East Asia that likely comes from China and may have originated from the Liang state that was around from 771-476 BC. This Chinese surname Liang means ‘bridge or beam.’
- Lin
The Chinese surname Lin likely comes from the later years of the Shang Dynasty. Lin as a name means ‘a forest’ or ‘tall trees.’
- Liu
Liu is a common last name of the Han dynasty rulers, and it means ‘to destroy’ or ‘to kill.’
- Long
This Chinese last name Long likely comes from a treasurer named Long who lived during King Shun’s rule. The last name Long means ‘a dragon’.
- Lu
The surname Lu is a popular Chinese last name and it means ‘cottage or a hut.’
- Lu (Another option)
The last name Lu, commonly found in China, comes from a word that means ‘a musical note.’
- Luo
The Chinese surname Luo comes from a word meaning ‘bird-trapping net.’ It likely originated as an occupational name for people who made these nets.
- Ma
The Chinese surname Ma is widely used in China and it signifies ‘a horse.’
- Mao
Mao is a Chinese surname that comes from a place called ‘Mao’ in ancient China. This last name means ‘fur’ or ‘feathers.’ The place Mao was in the Henan province and existed during the Zhou dynasty.
- Meng.
The Chinese last name Meng can indicate a family group or show the status of a member in a particular family. Meng as a surname means ‘first’ or ‘someone important.’
- Mo
This Chinese last name Mo translates to ‘do not.’
- Pan
This Chinese last name Pan comes from a river that flows into the River Han.
- Peng
Peng is a common last name in China and is linked to people who are believed to be the descendants of Peng Zu, a famous figure from ancient China.
- Qin
This Chinese surname comes from the ‘Qin’ dynasty, which was the first dynasty in ancient China.
- Qiu
The last name Qiu in Chinese translates to ‘hills.’
- Ren
The last name means ‘to appoint’ and is also associated with ‘Ren,’ a city given to Yu Yang, believed to be the 25th son of King Huang Di.
- Ruan
The last name originates from the word ‘Ruan,’ which is the name of a Chinese musical instrument.
- Shao
The last name Shao is commonly seen in China and comes from the Zhou Dynasty. Shao can also mean ‘pottery’.
- Shen
The Chinese surname Shen, which is widely used in China, translates to ‘to sink’ in English.
- Shi
The Chinese surname Shi means ‘stone’ and comes from a Chinese word that means ‘to recognize.’
- Shi (another option)
Shi is a popular last name in China and it translates to ‘to reproduce’ or ‘to establish.’
- Song
The Chinese surname Song is popular in China and comes from the Dynasty that once ruled over the country.
- Su
The Chinese last name Su comes from an ancient Chinese kingdom called ‘Su’ that was around during the time of King Fu Xi.
- Sun
The Chinese last name Sun means ‘a descendant’ or ‘a grandchild.’ The last name Tan comes from an ancient Chinese state called Tan in present-day Shandong province. In Chinese, Tan means ‘to talk.’
- Tang
The Chinese surname Tang is a common Chinese last name. It got its name from the Tang dynasty that ruled China from the seventh to the eighth century AD.
- Tang (another version)
The Chinese surname Tang originated from different people from the Shang dynasty. Tang means ‘soup’ or ‘boiling water.’
- Tao
The Chinese last name Tao is often found in China and is believed to have the meaning of ‘pottery’. It can also mean ‘to be pleased.’
- Tian
This Chinese surname means ‘talk’ or ‘field’. The last name Tian comes from the ancient city of ‘Tan’ which is now located in the Shandong province of China.
- Wan
The Chinese surname Wan has a fascinating meaning which is ‘ten thousand.’
- Wang
The Chinese surname Wang is widely used in China and refers to a monarch or king. It can also be interpreted as meaning a prince.
- Wang (Another option)
In China, the last name Wang is often used and it translates to ‘sea.’
- Wei
The last name Wei is associated with smooth leather.
- Wei (another option)
The Chinese last name Wei comes from an old Chinese city called ‘Wei.’
- Wen
The Chinese last name Wen symbolizes the concept of culture and can also represent a type of writing or language.
- Wu
The Chinese last name Wu comes from an ancient Chinese state called ‘Wu’ during the Western Zhou dynasty.
- Wu (another option)
The last name Wu stands for ‘military.’
- Xia
The Chinese surname Xia translates to ‘summer’ and may have originated from the Xia dynasty name.
- Xiao
The Chinese surname Xiao comes from the kingdom of Xiao in Anhui province. Xiao can also mean ‘quiet.’
- Xie
The Chinese surname Xie means the drying up of leaves or flowers, as well as expressing gratitude or offering apologies to someone.
- Xin
Originally, it was a Chinese surname that probably belonged to the Xia, Shen, or Xiang families.
- Xiong
Xiong is a common Chinese surname in China and it translates to ‘bear’ in English.
- Xu
In China, Xu is a common Chinese surname that translates to ‘slow’ and ‘calm.’
- Xu (Another option)
The Chinese surname Xu translates to ‘benefit.’ It probably comes from a decorative background and was taken on by a small number of people from the ‘Manchu’ group in the Qing Dynasty.
- Xue
The Chinese surname Xue comes from a word that means ‘Wormwood,’ an herb that helps with digestion issues.
- Yan
In China, this surname Yan is often associated with the meanings ‘strict’ and ‘tight.’
- Yang
Yang is a Chinese surname in Mainland China. It comes from a Chinese family name and means ‘willow’ or ‘Aspen.’
- Yao
The Chinese surname Yao is commonly seen in China and it means ‘elegant.’
- Ye
The Chinese surname Ye comes from a city in Henan province called ‘Ye.’ The surname Ye translates to ‘leaf.’
- Yu
The Chinese surname Yu in Chinese means ‘rain or rainfall.’
- Yu (alternate)
One common last name in China, Yu, translates to ‘more than enough or extra.’ This Chinese surname Yu can also mean ‘something enjoyable.’
- Yu (another option)
The Chinese surname Yu means ‘valuable jewels.’
- Yuan
The Chinese surname Yuan means ‘a long dress or a robe.’ It may have come from the name of a noble family in Chen, an ancient Chinese state located in what is now eastern Henan province.
- Zeng
The Chinese surname Zeng comes from a place called Zeng in China. It also represents the bond between great-grandfather and great-grandson.
- Zhang
Zhang is a popular Chinese surname in China and it means ‘the expansion or stretching of the bowstring.’
- Zhao
Zhao is a common Chinese surname in Mandarin-speaking areas of Mainland China. The name likely comes from a historical city that used to be in what is now Shanxi province.
- Zheng
The Chinese surname Zheng is common in China and comes from the ancient state of Zheng in the Henan province.
- Zhong
The Chinese surname Zhong means ‘bell’ and comes from the ancient Chinese state of Zhongli located near the Huai River.
- Zhou
The Chinese surname Zhou comes from the Zhou Dynasty and also means ‘a week’ or ‘circumference.’
- Zhu
The Chinese surname Zhu comes from a place called ‘Zhu (Zhulou),’ which was an old Chinese state when the Zhou Dynasty was in power. The last name Zhu can also mean ‘crimson.’
- Zhuang
The Chinese surname might come from the job of being a banker. The last name Zhuang could also come from a word that means either ‘a farm’ or ‘a business location.’
- Zou
The Chinese surname Zou is a name that comes from an ancient Chinese state called ‘Zou’ that existed during the Zhou dynasty.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re interested in learning about Chinese surnames or last names, this list will give you a lot of information. Many Chinese surname or last names have changed or disappeared over time because of different rulers throughout centuries. But it’s cool that some Chinese surnames or last names have stayed the same and are still used today, showing the history and culture of the region. Check out the list to see the different Chinese last names and where they come from in history.
