Most Common Chinese Last Names and What They Mean

 

Despite the fact that there are a couple of thousand Chinese last names, around 85% of the population use one of the top 100 surnames. Like Korean last names, the Chinese surname precedes the given name. This is different to how Western names are written (given name, and then surname).

Also, like most cultures and countries around the world, Chinese last names are usually passed down from the father to the children. We have gathered for you a list of the most common and popular Chinese last names. Do you recognise any of them?

 

The Top 10 Most Common Chinese Last Names With Meanings

Below are the 10 all time most popular Chinese surnames, along with their meanings. Have a look!

1. Wang (王) – Wang is the most common surname in China, meaning ‘King’.
2. Li (李) – Li, means plum. Li was the royal last name during the Tang dynasty.
3. Zhang (张) – A name given after the invention of the bow and arrow.
4. Liu (刘) – Kill and destroy.
5. Chen (陈) – Meaning “to exhibit”, Chen is the most common surname in Singapore and Taiwan.
6. Huang (黄) – Yellow
7. Zhao (赵) – Zhao is an ancient Chinese state.
8. Wu (吴) – God-like, the highest, lofty.
9. Zhou (周) – Careful and honest.

 

Top 100 Chinese Surnames

Here are the top 100 Chinese last names along with the Chinese characters.

1. 王 Wáng

2. 李 Lǐ

3. 张 Zhāng

4. 刘 Liú

5. 陈 Chén

6. 杨 Yáng

7. 赵 Zhào

8. 黄 Huáng

9. 吴 Wú

10. 周 Zhōu

11. 徐 Xú

12. 孙 Sūn

13. 胡 Hú

14. 朱 Zhū

15. 高 Gāo

16. 林 Lín

17. 何 Hé

18. 郭 Guō

19. 马 Mǎ

20. 罗 Luó

21. 梁 Liáng

22. 宋 Sòng

23. 郑 Zhèng

24. 谢 Xiè

25. 韩 Hán

26. 唐 Táng

27. 冯 Féng

28. 于 Yú

29. 董 Dǒng

30. 萧 Xiāo

31. 程 Chéng

32. 曹 Cáo

33. 袁 Yuán

34. 邓 Dèng

35. 许 Xǔ

36. 傅 Fù

37. 沈 Shěn

38. 曾 Zēng

39. 彭 Péng

40. 吕 Lǚ

41. 苏 Sū

42. 卢 Lú

43. 蒋 Jiǎng

44. 蔡 Cài

45. 贾 Jiǎ

46. 丁 Dīng

47. 魏 Wèi

48. 薛 Xuē

49. 叶 Yè

50. 阎 Yán

51. 余 Yú

52. 潘 Pān

53. 杜 Dù

54. 戴 Dài

55. 夏 Xià

56. 钟 Zhōng

57. 汪 Wāng

58. 田 Tián

59. 任 Rén

60. 姜 Jiāng

61. 范 Fàn

62. 方 Fāng

63. 石 Shí

64. 姚 Yáo

65. 谭 Tán

66. 盛 Shèng

67. 邹 Zōu

68. 熊 Xióng

69. 金 Jīn

70. 陆 Lù

71. 郝 Hǎo

72. 孔 Kǒng

73. 白 Bái

74. 崔 Cuī

75. 康 Kāng

76. 毛 Máo

77. 邱 Qiū

78. 秦 Qín

79. 江 Jiāng

80. 史 Shǐ

81. 顾 Gù

82. 侯 Hóu

83. 邵 Shào

84. 孟 Mèng

85. 龙 Lóng

86. 万 Wàn

87. 段 Duàn

88. 章 Zhāng

89. 钱 Qián

90. 汤 Tāng

91. 尹 Yǐn

92. 黎 Lí

93. 易 Yì

94. 常 Cháng

95. 武 Wǔ

96. 乔 Qiáo

97. 贺 Hè

98. 赖 Lài

99. 龚 Gōng

100. 文 Wén

 

You can read more of our worldlastnames.com articles below.

1. Japanese Last Names
2. German Last Names
3. Muslim Last Names
4. British last names
5. Cool Last Names
6. French Last Names
7. Arabic Last Names
8. Spanish Last Names
9. Most Popular Polish Last Names
10. Swedish Last Names