Chinese Surname Finder

Explore popular surnames

王

Meaning: king, grand, great, to rule, to reign over

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinWang
CantoneseWong
HakkaVong
RegionalOng, Uang, Vong
VariantsNg, Bong, Heng
Mandarin
Wang
Cantonese
Wong
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李

Meaning: plum

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinLi
CantoneseLei
HakkaLi
RegionalLi, Lei
VariantsLee
Mandarin
Li
Cantonese
Lei
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張/张

Meaning: surname Zhang, to open up, to spread, sheet, classifier for flat objects

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinZhang, Jang, Jhang, Chang
CantoneseZoeng, Jeung
HakkaChong, Zong
RegionalZiang, Tiu
VariantsTeo, Tiong, Cheung, Teoh, Cheong
Mandarin
Zhang
Cantonese
Zoeng
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劉/刘

Meaning: an ancient battle-ax, to kill, to slaughter

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinLiu, Lyou, Liou
CantoneseLau
HakkaLiu, Lew
RegionalLau, Liu, Lao
VariantsLieu, Liew, Law, Low, Liao, Lew
Mandarin
Liu
Cantonese
Lau
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陳/陈

Meaning: an ancient state in China, to exhibit, to display, to narrate, to state, to explain

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinChen
CantoneseCan, Chan
HakkaChhun, Cen
RegionalTin, Cin, Ting
VariantsSin, Tang, Chin, Ding, Tan
Mandarin
Chen
Cantonese
Can
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楊/杨

Meaning: poplar

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinYang
CantoneseJoeng, Yeung
HakkaYong
RegionalIu, Yiang, Ion
VariantsYew, Yeoh, Eow, Yeo, Ieong, Yeong, Young
Mandarin
Yang
Cantonese
Joeng
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黃/黄

Meaning: yellow, to fall through

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinHuang, Hwang
CantoneseWong
HakkaVong, Eng
RegionalVong, Ng, Eng
VariantsBoong, Ooi, Bong, Ong, Wee
Mandarin
Huang
Cantonese
Wong
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趙/赵

Meaning: one of the seven states during the Warring States Period (476-220 BC), to surpass (old)

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinZhao, Jau, Jhao, Chao
CantoneseZiu, Jiu
HakkaChheu, Cau
RegionalTio, Ziau, Dio
VariantsChow, Chew, Teoh, Chio, Tiew, Chiu, Chu, Jew
Mandarin
Zhao
Cantonese
Ziu
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吳/吴

Meaning: an ancient state in southern China

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinWu
CantoneseNg
HakkaNg, N
RegionalM, Ngo, Ghou
VariantsGoh, Ngu, Eng
Mandarin
Wu
Cantonese
Ng
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周

Meaning: Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), to make a circuit, to circle, lap, cycle, complete, all, week, weekly

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinZhou, Jou, Jhou, Chou
CantoneseZau, Jau
HakkaChu, Zu
RegionalChiu, Ziu
VariantsChow, Chew, Chao, Cheu, Chau, Chiew
Mandarin
Zhou
Cantonese
Zau
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徐

Meaning: slowly, gently

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinXu, Syu, Shiu, Hsu
CantoneseCeoi, Cheui
HakkaChhi, Qi
RegionalTui, Sir, Ce
VariantsTsui, Hsu, Seh, See, Choi, Chui, Yee
Mandarin
Xu
Cantonese
Ceoi
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孫/孙

Meaning: grandson, descendant

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinSun, Swun, Suen
CantoneseSyun
HakkaSun
RegionalLhun, Sun, Sung
VariantsSong, Soon, Shun
Mandarin
Sun
Cantonese
Syun
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馬/马

Meaning: horse, cavalry piece in Chinese chess, knight in Western chess

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinMa
CantoneseMaa
HakkaMa
RegionalMa, Be, Bhe
VariantsBeh, Mha, Baey, Mah, Mar
Mandarin
Ma
Cantonese
Maa
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朱

Meaning: vermilion, cinnabar

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinZhu, Ju, Jhu, Chu
CantoneseZyu, Jyu
HakkaChu, Zu
RegionalChu, Zi, Zu
VariantsJeh, Jee, Choo, Gee
Mandarin
Zhu
Cantonese
Zyu
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胡

Meaning: non-Han people especially from central Asia, reckless, outrageous, beard, mustache, whiskers

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinHu
CantoneseWu
HakkaFu
RegionalVu, O, Hu
VariantsOh, Foo, Hoo, Foh, Woo
Mandarin
Hu
Cantonese
Wu
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郭

Meaning: outer city wall

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinGuo, Gwo, Kuo
CantoneseGwok
HakkaKok, Guog
RegionalKok, Gueh
VariantsKuoc, Quek, Kwoh, Kho, Koay, Kuek, Kuok, Keoh, Kwok
Mandarin
Guo
Cantonese
Gwok
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何

Meaning: what, how, why, which

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinHe
CantoneseHo
HakkaHo
RegionalHo
VariantsHoh, Hor
Mandarin
He
Cantonese
Ho
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林

Meaning: woods, forest

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinLin
CantoneseLam
HakkaLim
RegionalLim, Na, Nan
VariantsLing, Lum
Mandarin
Lin
Cantonese
Lam
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羅/罗

Meaning: gauze, to collect, to gather, to catch, to sift

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinLuo, Lwo
CantoneseLo
HakkaLo
RegionalLo
VariantsLoh, Lau, Law, Low, Loo, Lor
Mandarin
Luo
Cantonese
Lo
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高

Meaning: high, tall, above average, loud

Common Spellings

SchemeSurnames
MandarinGao, Gau, Kao
CantoneseGou
HakkaKo, Gau
RegionalGau, Kau, Gao
VariantsKu, Koh, Kou, Kow, Ko
Mandarin
Gao
Cantonese
Gou
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Tracing Your Chinese Roots

Explore additional guides and tools to help you trace your Chinese ancestry—no language skills required.

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