{"id":38200,"date":"2024-08-13T09:21:53","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T01:21:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wukongsch.com\/blog\/?p=38200"},"modified":"2026-07-20T17:56:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T09:56:01","slug":"top-40-most-common-chinese-last-names-and-meanings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wukongsch.com\/blog\/top-40-most-common-chinese-last-names-and-meanings-post-38200\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 50 Most Common Chinese Last Names and Meanings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The most common Chinese surnames are Wang (\u738b), Li (\u674e), Zhang (\u5f20), Liu (\u5218), and Chen (\u9648) \u2014 together these five names account for roughly 30.8% of mainland China’s population, according to 2022 government statistics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese surnames typically originate from one of three sources: an ancient noble title or profession (Wang, “king”), an ancient fiefdom or vassal state (Chen, from the State of Chen), or a natural\/color term (Huang, “yellow”; Lin, “forest”). Unlike Western names, the surname is written and spoken first, followed by the given name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>Chinese Surname and Last Name<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why the Last Name Comes First<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Western cultures, the family name is placed at the end (the “last name”). In Chinese culture, the order is reversed: Family Name + Given Name<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in the name Li Hua (\u674e\u534e)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n