Is your last name Chinese? And if it is, what does it look like in Chinese characters? This page helps you find out. It lists Chinese last names from A to Z, with the real character for each one.
Each letter below has its own short table. You will see the English spelling, the Chinese character, the Mandarin sound, and the meaning. I think this is the easiest way to look up a name. You just jump to the first letter of your surname.
Some names look very different in English but share one character. Chen, Chan, Tan, and Chin are all 陈 “chun”. Lee, Li, and Dy are all 李 “lee”. That is because each kind of Chinese says a name in its own way. So this list shows the spelling, plus the place where people use it.
The tables show the names people search for most. The tool at the top of this page holds the rest. In my opinion, it is the fastest way to check a rare spelling. Type your surname, and the tool shows its character.
Every name here is a real Chinese surname. We checked each one against the old list of Chinese family names and the main spelling systems. Korean and Vietnamese spellings have their own pages, so this list stays fully Chinese.
How Do You Read This A to Z List?
Each table shows a spelling and its Chinese character. It also shows the Mandarin sound, the meaning, and where people use that spelling. The character is the real family name.
The "Used in" column tells you where a spelling comes from. Here is what each one means:
- Mandarin (pinyin): the main spelling in China today.
- Taiwan (older spelling): an older way to spell Mandarin, still used in Taiwan.
- Cantonese: the spelling used in Hong Kong and many Chinese American families.
- Hokkien or Teochew: the spelling used in places like Singapore and the Philippines.
- Taishanese: an old spelling used by many of the first Chinese families in America.
Some spellings are shared by two great families. Wong can be 王 “wahng” or 黄 “hwahng”. Ng can be 吴 “woo” or 伍 “woo”. In that case, the table shows both. Your family papers can tell you which one is yours.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With A?
Au is the most searched Chinese last name that starts with A. Ang, An, Ai, and Ao are the others.
A is a short letter in Chinese names. Most A names are small but very real families. The table below shows them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Au | 区or欧 | Ōusounds like “oh” | An old family name from the south | Cantonese |
| Ang | 洪 | Hóngsounds like “hoong” | Great, wide flood | Hokkien |
| An | 安 | Ānsounds like “ahn” | Peace, calm | Mandarin |
| Ai | 艾 | Àisounds like “eye” | A healing herb | Mandarin |
| Ao | 敖 | Áosounds like “ow” | To travel freely | Mandarin |
Au and Ang are spellings from southern China. An is the most peaceful meaning on the list.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With B?
Bai, Bao, and Bi lead the Chinese last names that start with B. Bai means white, and it sits in the top 100 of the Chinese surname list.
Every B name here is a Mandarin spelling. The table below shows seven of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bai | 白 | Báisounds like “bye” | White | Mandarin |
| Bao | 包 | Bāosounds like “bow” | To wrap, to hold | Mandarin |
| Bi | 毕 | Bìsounds like “bee” | To finish, complete | Mandarin |
| Bu | 步 | Bùsounds like “boo” | Step | Mandarin |
| Ban | 班 | Bānsounds like “bahn” | Group, class | Mandarin |
| Bei | 贝 | Bèisounds like “bay” | Shell, treasure | Mandarin |
| Bo | 伯 | Bósounds like “baw” | Elder uncle | Mandarin |
Bai is the biggest B name by far. Bei is a lovely one, since shells were once used as money.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With C?
Chin, Chen, Chang, and Choi are the most searched Chinese last names that start with C. C has more names than almost any other letter.
Many C names share a few famous characters, each with its own spelling. Chen, Chan, and Chin are all 陈 “chun”. The table below shows the top eight.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chin | 陈 | Chénsounds like “chun” | To show, to arrange | Taishanese |
| Chen | 陈 | Chénsounds like “chun” | To show, to arrange | Mandarin |
| Chang | 张or常 | Zhāng or Chángsounds like “jahng or chahng” | To pull a bow, or always | Taiwan (older spelling) and Mandarin |
| Choi | 蔡 | Càisounds like “tsye” | The old state of Cai | Cantonese |
| Chan | 陈 | Chénsounds like “chun” | To show, to arrange | Cantonese |
| Cheng | 程or成 | Chéngsounds like “chung” | Rule, or success | Mandarin |
| Chu | 朱 | Zhūsounds like “joo” | Bright red | Taiwan (older spelling) |
| Chua | 蔡 | Càisounds like “tsye” | The old state of Cai | Hokkien |
Chen is the fifth-largest surname in China. Its other spellings, Chan and Chin, make it even bigger around the world.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With D?
Dong, Deng, and Ding lead the Chinese last names that start with D. Dong is often spelled Tung in Hong Kong.
D names are mostly Mandarin spellings. The table below shows eight of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dong | 董 | Dǒngsounds like “doong” | To lead, to guide | Mandarin |
| Deng | 邓 | Dèngsounds like “dung” | The old state of Deng | Mandarin |
| Ding | 丁 | Dīngsounds like “ding” | Strong young man | Mandarin |
| Du | 杜 | Dùsounds like “doo” | A pear tree | Mandarin |
| Dai | 戴 | Dàisounds like “dye” | To wear, to honor | Mandarin |
| Dy | 李 | Lǐsounds like “lee” | Plum tree | Hokkien (Philippines) |
| Dang | 党 | Dǎngsounds like “dahng” | Group, team | Mandarin |
| Dao | 刀 | Dāosounds like “dow” | Knife | Mandarin |
Deng is a famous name in modern Chinese history. Dy shows how far one name can travel: it is 李 “lee”, spelled the Filipino-Chinese way.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With E?
Eng is the Chinese last name that starts with E. It is a Taishanese spelling of 伍 “woo” or 吴 “woo”.
E is a rare first letter for Chinese names. The table below shows the one common spelling.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eng | 伍or吴 | Wǔ or Wúsounds like “woo” | A group of five, or the old state of Wu | Taishanese |
Many early Chinese families in America came from Taishan. That is why Eng is so common in the United States.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With F?
Fang, Fong, and Fan lead the Chinese last names that start with F. Fang and Fong are the same character, 方 “fahng”.
F names come from both Mandarin and Cantonese. The table below shows seven of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fang | 方 | Fāngsounds like “fahng” | Square, direction | Mandarin |
| Fong | 方or邝 | Fāng or Kuàngsounds like “fahng or kwahng” | Square, or wide | Cantonese |
| Fan | 范 | Fànsounds like “fahn” | Model, example | Mandarin |
| Fu | 傅 | Fùsounds like “foo” | Teacher, tutor | Mandarin |
| Fung | 冯 | Féngsounds like “fung” | A galloping horse | Cantonese |
| Feng | 冯 | Féngsounds like “fung” | A galloping horse | Mandarin |
| Fei | 费 | Fèisounds like “fay” | The old town of Fei | Mandarin |
Fan means a good example, which makes it a proud name. Feng and Fung are the same family, 冯 “fung”.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With G?
Guo, Gao, and Gu lead the Chinese last names that start with G. Gao means tall, and it is in the top 20.
G names include Mandarin, Hokkien, and Taishanese spellings. The table below shows eight of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guo | 郭 | Guōsounds like “gwaw” | Outer city wall | Mandarin |
| Gao | 高 | Gāosounds like “gow” | Tall, high | Mandarin |
| Gu | 顾 | Gùsounds like “goo” | To look after | Mandarin |
| Gee | 朱 | Zhūsounds like “joo” | Bright red | Taishanese |
| Goh | 吴 | Wúsounds like “woo” | The old state of Wu | Hokkien |
| Guan | 关 | Guānsounds like “gwahn” | Gate, pass | Mandarin |
| Ge | 葛 | Gésounds like “guh” | A climbing vine | Mandarin |
| Gan | 甘 | Gānsounds like “gahn” | Sweet | Mandarin |
Gu means to look after, which is a kind meaning for a family. Gan, which means sweet, is one of the nicest on the list.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With H?
Huang, Hung, and Hua are the most searched Chinese last names that start with H. Huang means yellow, and it ranks seventh in China.
H has many big names. The table below shows the top eight.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huang | 黄 | Huángsounds like “hwahng” | Yellow | Mandarin |
| Hung | 洪 | Hóngsounds like “hoong” | Great, wide flood | Cantonese |
| Hua | 华 | Huásounds like “hwah” | Splendid, flowery | Mandarin |
| Ho | 何 | Hésounds like “huh” | To carry (old meaning) | Cantonese |
| He | 何 | Hésounds like “huh” | To carry (old meaning) | Mandarin |
| Hong | 洪 | Hóngsounds like “hoong” | Great, wide flood | Mandarin |
| Han | 韩 | Hánsounds like “hahn” | The old state of Han | Mandarin |
| Hu | 胡 | Húsounds like “hoo” | Beard, or northern peoples | Mandarin |
Ho and He share one proud character, 何 “huh”. Hung and Hong are both 洪 “hoong”, in two different spellings.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With I?
Ip is the Chinese last name that starts with I. It is the Cantonese spelling of 叶 “yeh”, which means leaf.
I is the rarest first letter for Chinese names. The table below shows one well-known spelling.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ip | 叶 | Yèsounds like “yeh” | Leaf | Cantonese |
Ip Man, the famous kung fu teacher, made this name known around the world. In Mandarin, the same name is Ye.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With J?
Jiang, Jin, and Ji lead the Chinese last names that start with J. Jin means gold.
Most J names are Mandarin spellings. The table below shows eight of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiang | 江or蒋 | Jiāng or Jiǎngsounds like “jyahng” | River, or a kind of grass | Mandarin |
| Jin | 金 | Jīnsounds like “jin” | Gold | Mandarin |
| Ji | 季 | Jìsounds like “jee” | Season, youngest | Mandarin |
| Jia | 贾 | Jiǎsounds like “jyah” | Merchant | Mandarin |
| Jiao | 焦 | Jiāosounds like “jyow” | Burnt, toasted | Mandarin |
| Jian | 简 | Jiǎnsounds like “jyen” | Simple | Mandarin |
| Jung | 荣or容 | Róngsounds like “roong” | Glory, or to hold | Taiwan (older spelling) |
| Jen | 任 | Rènsounds like “run” | To trust, to appoint | Taiwan (older spelling) |
Jiang can be two different big families, 江 “jyahng” and 蒋 “jyahng”. Jung and Jen show how Taiwan spells sounds that start with R in Pinyin.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With K?
Kang, Ko, and Kong lead the Chinese last names that start with K. Kong (孔 “koong”) is the family name of Confucius.
K names come from many places, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The table below shows eight of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kang | 康 | Kāngsounds like “kahng” | Health, peace | Mandarin |
| Ko | 高 | Gāosounds like “gow” | Tall, high | Cantonese |
| Kong | 孔or江 | Kǒng or Jiāngsounds like “koong or jyahng” | The family of Confucius, or river | Mandarin and Cantonese |
| King | 金 | Jīnsounds like “jin” | Gold | English form |
| Koh | 许 | Xǔsounds like “shoo” | To promise | Hokkien |
| Kwan | 关 | Guānsounds like “gwahn” | Gate, pass | Cantonese |
| Kwok | 郭 | Guōsounds like “gwaw” | Outer city wall | Cantonese |
| Khoo | 邱 | Qiūsounds like “chyoh” | Small hill | Hokkien |
Kang means health, a great wish for any family. King is an English way to write 金 “jin”, which means gold.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With L?
Lee, Li, and Liu are the most searched Chinese last names that start with L. Lee is the top searched name in this whole list.
L is the most common letter for Chinese surnames. The table below shows the top eight.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee | 李 | Lǐsounds like “lee” | Plum tree | Cantonese and English |
| Li | 李 | Lǐsounds like “lee” | Plum tree | Mandarin |
| Liu | 刘 | Liúsounds like “lyoh” | Battle-axe (old meaning) | Mandarin |
| Lin | 林 | Línsounds like “lin” | Forest | Mandarin |
| Lu | 陆or卢 | Lù or Lúsounds like “loo” | Land, or an old cooking pot | Mandarin |
| Lau | 刘 | Liúsounds like “lyoh” | Battle-axe (old meaning) | Cantonese |
| Lim | 林 | Línsounds like “lin” | Forest | Hokkien |
| Lam | 林 | Línsounds like “lin” | Forest | Cantonese |
Lin, Lim, and Lam are the same surname in three spellings. Lee and Li together make the second biggest name in China.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With M?
Ma, Mao, and Meng lead the Chinese last names that start with M. Ma means horse, and it ranks 13th in China.
M names are mostly Mandarin spellings. The table below shows eight of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ma | 马 | Mǎsounds like “mah” | Horse | Mandarin |
| Mao | 毛 | Máosounds like “mow” | Fur, hair | Mandarin |
| Meng | 孟 | Mèngsounds like “mung” | Eldest child | Mandarin |
| Mei | 梅 | Méisounds like “may” | Plum blossom | Mandarin |
| Mai | 麦 | Màisounds like “my” | Wheat | Mandarin |
| Mu | 穆 | Mùsounds like “moo” | Calm, respectful | Mandarin |
| Miao | 苗 | Miáosounds like “myow” | Young plant, sprout | Mandarin |
| Moy | 梅 | Méisounds like “may” | Plum blossom | Taishanese |
Meng is the family of the great thinker Mencius. Mei and Moy are both 梅 “may”, the plum blossom.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With N?
Ng and Ning lead the Chinese last names that start with N. Ng is one of the shortest and best-known surnames in the world.
N names come from Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hokkien. The table below shows seven of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ng | 吴or伍 | Wú or Wǔsounds like “woo” | The old state of Wu, or a group of five | Cantonese |
| Ning | 宁 | Níngsounds like “ning” | Peace, calm | Mandarin |
| Ni | 倪 | Nísounds like “nee” | The old state of Ni | Mandarin |
| Ngan | 颜 | Yánsounds like “yen” | Face, color | Cantonese |
| Nangong | 南宫 | Nángōngsounds like “nahn-goong” | South palace | Mandarin (two characters) |
| Na | 那 | Nàsounds like “nah” | A name with Manchu family roots | Mandarin |
| Neo | 梁 | Liángsounds like “lyahng” | Bridge, beam | Hokkien |
Ng is special because its English spelling uses only consonants. Nangong is a rare two-character name that means south palace.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With O?
Ong, Ou, and Ouyang are the Chinese last names that start with O. Ong is the Hokkien spelling of 王 “wahng”, which means king.
O is a small letter for Chinese surnames. The table below shows all three.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ong | 王 | Wángsounds like “wahng” | King | Hokkien |
| Ou | 欧or区 | Ōusounds like “oh” | An old family name from the south | Mandarin |
| Ouyang | 欧阳 | Ōuyángsounds like “oh-yahng” | South of Mount Ou | Mandarin (two characters) |
Ouyang is the biggest two-character surname in China. It has about 1.1 million people.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With P?
Pan, Pang, and Peng lead the Chinese last names that start with P. Peng and Pang are the same character, 彭 “pung”.
P names come from Mandarin, Cantonese, and Taiwanese spellings. The table below shows eight of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan | 潘 | Pānsounds like “pahn” | The old land of Pan | Mandarin |
| Pang | 彭 | Péngsounds like “pung” | The sound of a drum | Cantonese |
| Peng | 彭 | Péngsounds like “pung” | The sound of a drum | Mandarin |
| Ping | 平 | Píngsounds like “ping” | Flat, peaceful | Mandarin |
| Piao | 朴 | Piáosounds like “pyow” | Plain, simple | Mandarin |
| Pak | 白 | Báisounds like “bye” | White | Cantonese |
| Pao | 包or鲍 | Bāosounds like “bow” | To wrap | Taiwan (older spelling) |
| Pong | 庞 | Pángsounds like “pahng” | Huge | Cantonese |
Ping means peaceful, a happy name to carry. Piao is the Chinese reading of the big Korean name Park.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With Q?
Qian, Qin, and Qiu lead the Chinese last names that start with Q. Qian means money, and it is the second name in the old Hundred Family Surnames.
Q is a letter that only Pinyin uses this way. In Mandarin, Q sounds like "ch." The table below shows eight Q names.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qian | 钱 | Qiánsounds like “chyen” | Money | Mandarin |
| Qin | 秦 | Qínsounds like “chin” | The state of Qin | Mandarin |
| Qiu | 邱 | Qiūsounds like “chyoh” | Small hill | Mandarin |
| Qi | 齐 | Qísounds like “chee” | Even, neat | Mandarin |
| Qiao | 乔 | Qiáosounds like “chyow” | Tall | Mandarin |
| Qu | 屈 | Qūsounds like “chyoo” | To bend | Mandarin |
| Qing | 卿 | Qīngsounds like “ching” | High official | Mandarin |
| Quon | 关 | Guānsounds like “gwahn” | Gate, pass | Taishanese |
Qin is the name of China's first empire. That is where the English word "China" may come from.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With R?
Rao, Ruan, Ren, and Rong are the Chinese last names that start with R. Rao means plenty.
R names are all Mandarin spellings. The table below shows all four.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rao | 饶 | Ráosounds like “row” | Plenty, rich | Mandarin |
| Ruan | 阮 | Ruǎnsounds like “rwahn” | An old string instrument | Mandarin |
| Ren | 任 | Rènsounds like “run” | To trust, to appoint | Mandarin |
| Rong | 荣or容 | Róngsounds like “roong” | Glory, or to hold | Mandarin |
Ruan is the same character as the Vietnamese name Nguyen. In Taiwan, Ren is often spelled Jen.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With S?
Song, Sun, and Siu are the most searched Chinese last names that start with S. Sun means grandson.
S has many names from all over the Chinese world. The table below shows the top eight.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song | 宋 | Sòngsounds like “soong” | The old state of Song | Mandarin |
| Sun | 孙 | Sūnsounds like “swun” | Grandson | Mandarin |
| Siu | 萧 | Xiāosounds like “shyow” | A wild plant, quiet | Cantonese |
| Shi | 施,史, or石 | Shī, Shǐ, or Shísounds like “shr” | To give, history, or stone | Mandarin |
| Su | 苏 | Sūsounds like “soo” | To wake, to come back to life | Mandarin |
| So | 苏 | Sūsounds like “soo” | To wake, to come back to life | Cantonese |
| Shaw | 邵 | Shàosounds like “show” | The old town of Shao | Shanghainese |
| Shen | 沈 | Shěnsounds like “shun” | The old state of Shen | Mandarin |
Song is also the name of a great dynasty. Su and So are the same name, with a hopeful meaning.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With T?
Tung, Tan, and Tang are the most searched Chinese last names that start with T. Tung is the Cantonese spelling of 董 “doong”.
T names come from many spelling systems. The table below shows the top eight.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tung | 董 | Dǒngsounds like “doong” | To lead, to guide | Cantonese and Taiwan |
| Tan | 陈 | Chénsounds like “chun” | To show, to arrange | Hokkien |
| Tang | 唐or邓 | Táng or Dèngsounds like “tahng or dung” | The Tang dynasty, or the old state of Deng | Mandarin and Cantonese |
| Tam | 谭 | Tánsounds like “tahn” | To talk deeply | Cantonese |
| Tse | 谢 | Xièsounds like “shyeh” | To thank | Cantonese |
| Tian | 田 | Tiánsounds like “tyen” | Field | Mandarin |
| Tsang | 曾 | Zēngsounds like “dzung” | Great (as in great-grandfather) | Cantonese |
| Tong | 童 | Tóngsounds like “toong” | Child | Mandarin |
Tan is the top surname in Singapore. Tse means to thank, which makes it a warm family name.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With U?
Uy and Ung are the Chinese last names that start with U. Both are spellings used in Southeast Asia.
U is a rare first letter. The table below shows both names.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uy | 黄 | Huángsounds like “hwahng” | Yellow | Hokkien (Philippines) |
| Ung | 翁or吴 | Wēng or Wúsounds like “wung or woo” | Old man, or the state of Wu | Teochew |
Uy is a common name among Chinese families in the Philippines. In Mandarin, it is Huang.
Are There Chinese Last Names That Start With V?
No. Chinese surnames use a soft W sound in that spot, as in Wang and Wu. So in English, these names start with W.
You may still see names like Vu, Vo, and Vuong. These are Vietnamese spellings. They come from Chinese characters, though. Vu and Vo are 武 “woo” (Wu), and Vuong is 王 “wahng” (Wang). So a family named Vuong shares its character with the Chinese name Wang.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With W?
Wong, Wu, and Wang are the most searched Chinese last names that start with W. Wang means king, and it is the biggest surname in China.
W holds some of the largest families in the world. The table below shows eight of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wong | 王or黄 | Wáng or Huángsounds like “wahng or hwahng” | King, or yellow | Cantonese |
| Wu | 吴 | Wúsounds like “woo” | The old state of Wu | Mandarin |
| Wang | 王 | Wángsounds like “wahng” | King | Mandarin |
| Wei | 魏 | Wèisounds like “way” | The old state of Wei | Mandarin |
| Woo | 胡 | Húsounds like “hoo” | Beard, or northern peoples | Cantonese |
| Wen | 文 | Wénsounds like “wun” | Writing, culture | Mandarin |
| Weng | 翁 | Wēngsounds like “wung” | Old man, wise elder | Mandarin |
| Wing | 荣 | Róngsounds like “roong” | Glory | Cantonese |
Wang has about 101.5 million people in China alone. Wong is its Cantonese twin, and it can also stand for 黄 “hwahng”.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With X?
Xu, Xiong, and Xia lead the Chinese last names that start with X. In Mandarin, X sounds like a soft "sh."
X names are all pinyin spellings. The table below shows eight of them.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xu | 徐or许 | Xú or Xǔsounds like “shoo” | Slow and calm, or to promise | Mandarin |
| Xiong | 熊 | Xióngsounds like “shyoong” | Bear | Mandarin |
| Xia | 夏 | Xiàsounds like “shyah” | Summer | Mandarin |
| Xiao | 萧or肖 | Xiāosounds like “shyow” | A wild plant, or to look like | Mandarin |
| Xie | 谢 | Xièsounds like “shyeh” | To thank | Mandarin |
| 邢 | Xíngsounds like “shing” | The old state of Xing | Mandarin | |
| Xue | 薛 | Xuēsounds like “shweh” | The old state of Xue | Mandarin |
| Xun | 荀 | Xúnsounds like “shyoon” | The old state of Xun | Mandarin |
Xia means summer, a bright and warm name. Xiong means bear, one of the few animal surnames.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With Y?
Yang, Young, and Yu are the most searched Chinese last names that start with Y. Yang means poplar tree, and it ranks sixth in China.
Y is a big letter, with names from every spelling system. The table below shows the top eight.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yang | 杨 | Yángsounds like “yahng” | Poplar tree | Mandarin |
| Young | 杨 | Yángsounds like “yahng” | Poplar tree | English form |
| Yu | 余or于 | Yúsounds like “yoo” | Plenty, or to go | Mandarin |
| Ye | 叶 | Yèsounds like “yeh” | Leaf | Mandarin |
| Yee | 余 | Yúsounds like “yoo” | Plenty | Cantonese |
| Yip | 叶 | Yèsounds like “yeh” | Leaf | Cantonese |
| Yan | 颜or严 | Yánsounds like “yen” | Face and color, or strict | Mandarin |
| Yuen | 袁 | Yuánsounds like “ywen” | Long robe | Cantonese |
Ye, Yip, and Ip are all 叶 “yeh”, the leaf. Young is a popular English way to write 杨 “yahng”.
Which Chinese Last Names Start With Z?
Zhang, Zhao, and Zhu lead the Chinese last names that start with Z. Zhang is the third biggest surname in China.
Z names are all Pinyin spellings. In Mandarin, "zh" sounds like the "j" in "jump." The table below shows eight Z names.
| Spelling | Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhang | 张 | Zhāngsounds like “jahng” | To pull a bow | Mandarin |
| Zhao | 赵 | Zhàosounds like “jow” | The old state of Zhao | Mandarin |
| Zhu | 朱 | Zhūsounds like “joo” | Bright red | Mandarin |
| Zheng | 郑 | Zhèngsounds like “jung” | The old state of Zheng | Mandarin |
| Zhou | 周 | Zhōusounds like “joe” | Circle, complete | Mandarin |
| Zeng | 曾 | Zēngsounds like “dzung” | Great (as in great-grandfather) | Mandarin |
| Zhong | 钟 | Zhōngsounds like “joong” | Bell | Mandarin |
| Zuo | 左 | Zuǒsounds like “dzwaw” | Left | Mandarin |
Zhang, Zhao, and Zhou are all in China's top ten. Zhong means bell, a sound that calls people together.
How Do You Find Your Last Name in Chinese Characters?
Start with the first letter of your surname. Then find your spelling in that letter's table. The character next to it is your last name in Chinese characters.
If your spelling has two characters, ask an older relative. Old family papers help too. Look at passports, gravestones, and family books. They often show the real character.
Your spelling can also hint at where your family came from. A spelling like Lim or Tan points to Hokkien speakers in Singapore or Malaysia. A spelling like Chan or Wong points to Cantonese speakers in Hong Kong. A spelling like Zhang or Xu points to Mandarin speakers in mainland China.
Want to check a rarer spelling? Type it into the tool at the top of this page. The tool covers hundreds of extra spellings for you.
Open the surname finderWhat Else Do People Ask About Chinese Last Names A to Z?
Which letter has the most Chinese last names?
L and C have the most. L holds big names like Li, Lin, and Liu. C holds Chen, Chan, and Chang.
Which letter belongs to Vietnamese spellings?
V belongs to Vietnamese spellings like Vu and Vuong. These names share their characters with the Chinese names Wu and Wang.
What is the most searched Chinese last name?
Lee is the most searched name in this list. Wong, Tung, Li, and Chin follow it.
What makes Chen, Chan, and Tan the same name?
Each kind of Chinese says a name its own way. So 陈 “chun” is Chen in Mandarin, Chan in Cantonese, and Tan in Hokkien.
What does my Chinese last name mean?
Find your spelling in the table, then read the meaning column. Each meaning comes from the character itself.
How do you pronounce Chinese last names?
Say each name as one short sound, with its tone. In Pinyin, X sounds like "sh," Q sounds like "ch," and Zh sounds like "j."
Is the last name written first in Chinese?
Yes. In Chinese, the last name always comes first. So in Zhang Wei, Zhang is the last name.