Chinese Surname Guide
Chinese family name reference
Chinese Surname Guide
Look up Chinese surnames, compare common family names, and understand meaning, origin, pinyin, and romanization notes in one place.
Hundred Family Surnames
Trace Chinese family names through characters, origins, and heritage.
Explore common Chinese surnames with character notes, pinyin, romanized variants, Baijiaxing context, and practical English explanations.
Top Surnames
Start with major Chinese family names
Li is one of the most common Chinese surnames and appears across many regional romanization systems.
王 #2 Wang Wong, OngWang is widely used in Mandarin and appears as Wong or Ong in some Cantonese, Hokkien, or regional communities.
张 #3 Zhang Cheung, ChangZhang is a major Mandarin surname with common romanized forms such as Cheung and Chang in overseas communities.
刘 #4 Liu Lau, LowLiu is historically important and strongly represented in Chinese history and overseas Chinese communities.
陈 #5 Chen Chan, TanChen is a very common Chinese surname, while Chan and Tan are common regional romanizations.
杨 #6 Yang YeungYang is a common surname across Mandarin-speaking regions and appears as Yeung in some Cantonese romanization.
黄 #7 Huang Wong, NgHuang is common in Mandarin contexts; Wong and Ng can appear as related regional romanization forms depending on language and family history.
赵 #8 Zhao Chao, ChiuZhao is famous as the first surname in the traditional Hundred Family Surnames text.
吴 #9 Wu Ng, WooWu is common in Mandarin, while Ng and Woo are frequent overseas romanization forms.
周 #10 Zhou Chou, ChowZhou appears in Mandarin as Zhou and in older or regional romanizations as Chou or Chow.
Research Paths
Read a surname from four useful angles
Latest Guides
Start with these surname topics
Read Chinese last name meaning by checking characters, romanization, family records, dialect clues, and safe interpretation limits.
Research Guides Chinese Surname Research Checklist: Records, Spellings, and Family ProofUse a Chinese surname research checklist to compare records, spellings, dialect clues, family sources, and character evidence.
Gift Guides Chinese Surname Tattoo Ideas: Character Checks and Safe DesignPlan Chinese surname tattoo ideas with confirmed characters, family evidence, font checks, placement notes, and careful meaning boundaries.
Gift Guides Chinese Surname Wall Art: Character Proof, Layout, and Gift WordingCreate Chinese surname wall art with confirmed characters, readable layout, family source notes, print checks, and safe gift wording.
Meaning Guides Lin Surname Meaning: Character and Origin LimitsRead Lin surname meaning with character confirmation, pronunciation notes, spelling variants, origin limits, and family records.
Meaning Guides Gao Surname Meaning: Character, Origin Clues, and Research LimitsUnderstand Gao surname meaning with the Chinese character, pinyin, older spelling clues, origin limits, and family-record checks.
Research Guides
New surname origin and meaning guides
Open this guide for character, spelling, origin, and research checks.
Surname guideYang surname originOpen this guide for character, spelling, origin, and research checks.
Surname guideHuang surname originOpen this guide for character, spelling, origin, and research checks.
Surname guideXu surname originOpen this guide for character, spelling, origin, and research checks.
Surname guideZhao surname originOpen this guide for character, spelling, origin, and research checks.
Surname guideLi surname meaningOpen this guide for character, spelling, origin, and research checks.
Surname guideChinese family name orderOpen this guide for character, spelling, origin, and research checks.