Dictionary Of Surnames Used In China ĸ图姓氟辞典 May 2026
Whether you are tracing your roots or simply curious about the "Big Five," this guide serves as your essential dictionary of Chinese surnames. 1. The "Big Five": China's Most Common Surnames
: Meaning "exhibit" or "ancient." It is particularly dominant in southern China and among the overseas Chinese diaspora. 2. The Origin Stories: Where Surnames Come From Whether you are tracing your roots or simply
: Meaning "kill" or "destroy" (archaic). This was the imperial surname of the Han Dynasty. : Meaning "to stretch" or "archer
: Meaning "to stretch" or "archer." It originated from an official title for those who made bows and arrows. these are the heavyweights:
: Meaning "King" or "Monarch." It is currently the most common surname in mainland China, with over 100 million people.
While there are thousands of surnames, a massive shares just the top five names. According to the latest census reports from the Ministry of Public Security , these are the heavyweights:
