Oh is a spelling variant of ‘Wu’ and refers to the ancient state of ‘Wu’ located in the Jiangsu province. 24. Na is a Korean last name derived from the Chinese toponymic name that refers to a state in the Zhou dynasty. 95. Family name origins & meanings. Thank you! We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Kwon is a variant of ‘Quan’ and refers to ‘power’ or ‘authority’. Dong-Seok meaning "East stone". It is an occupational surname that originated from people who were into bow-making. Cho is a popular Korean last name derived from ‘Zhao’ that was an ancient city in Shanxi province. Choi meaning "lofty or a high tower". This is a spelling variant of ‘Kwon’ or ‘Quan’ referring to ‘power’ or ‘authority’. It is the Romanized version of 'Xia.'. The people who are good at bow and arrow name themself Zhang. Korean actor and producer Daniel Kim, popular for 'Lost' series, has this surname. Ryu is the Korean form of the Chinese word ‘Yu’ and refers to a ‘willow tree’. 同 Tóng is a surname meaning the same in English "tong". 47. Bak is the third most common last name in Korea (1) and is derived from the name of the fruit called ‘gourd’. 31. Curious to find out more about Korean last names? Also spelled as ‘Bai’ or ‘Pei’, the word Bae refers to a pear. Jang (Korean surname)-Wikipedia Paek meaning "white color". North Korean football manager Rye-Hyun Myung carries this last name. This Korean name was formed from the area the individuals inhabited. Surname in various European countries originating from the given name Noah, as well as a rare Korean surname meaning "thunder". Chay is a spelling variant of Chai or Chae and refers to ‘brushwood’. Jeong this surname is formed from an ancient state 'Zheng', a state in China. Another Zhang, 章, is a less common surname which also has the same pronunciation of ''Zhāng'' in Mandarin, ''Cheung'' in Cantonese, and ''Jang'' in Korean. Thus, the influence of China and Japan is seen on Korean names and surnames. Ma originated in China and refers to a ‘horse’. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. Yun meaning "to oversee". 25. Tan meaning "display". It is the third most common last name in Korea. 80. Chew is a variant of ‘Zhu’ or ‘Chu’ and is a toponymic last name. Thanks for the A2A. Jin originated in China and refers to ‘gold’. : 40. This is also a variant of ‘Gwak’ or ‘Kwak’ referring to ‘a surrounding area’ or ‘city walls’. This surname has Chinese origins and refers to ‘good’ or ‘virtuous’. This Korean last name refers to ‘a high tower’ or ‘lofty’. Chang is a variant of Zhang and means ‘prosperous’ or ‘flourishing’. It is also an occupational surname derived from people who were engaged in ‘bow-making’. It refers to the name of a fruit, called ‘a pear’. It also means "water flowing into the Han River". 90. It is a variant of Paik or Baik. 34. Toh is derived from the Chinese word ‘Du’ which means ‘stop’ or ‘prevent’. Ms. Zhang called that legislation a declaration of women’s rights. Hwang meaning "yellow", formed from the Chinese word 'Huang'. Famous South Korean actor Im Ho's surname means. Min meaning '"smart or clever." Copyright © 2021 Kidadl Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The meanings of such syllables may vary when Romanized from Hanja (the Korean name for Chinese characters), and the subtle changes in sounds matter. A variant of 'Chon' or 'Chun.'. Zheng (Cheng/Chang) was a major surname of the rich and powerful during China's Tang dynasty. 27. Listen to the audio pronunciation of Zhang (surname) on pronouncekiwi. It is derived from the Chinese word ‘Dou’ referring to a ‘dipper’ or ‘unit of measure’. This is the most popular surname in Korea. Han meaning "country or leader". In honor of his deeds, he was given as surname the character pronounced Zhang, which is composed of the symbols for ‘bow’ and ‘long’, meaning to ‘stretch open a bow’. Gang is a Korean surname derived from the Chinese word Jiang referring to ‘ginger’. A spelling variant of ‘Jiang,’ this surname refers to ‘ginger’. 15. This is a good question. In most cases, the whole name is used (not just the family name). 26. Gang (Chinese origin) meaning "ginger". Another reference of this surname is from the vocation of ‘archery’. Tak was passed on by T'ak Chi-yop, a scholar from the Koryo Kingdom, whose followers adopted his first name as their surname. Zhāng1 张 is a quite common Chinese surname. Ko meaning "derived from those living in the Korean peninsula or Ko dynasty". Korean judo world champion Ki-Chun Wang made this surname popular. Chew meaning "ancient state of Zhu". This is a spelling variant of ‘Lee’ or ‘Li’ referring to a ‘plum’ or a ‘plum tree’. This is the most popular surname in Korea. This last name is a variant of ‘Jeong’ and refers to ‘quiet’ or ‘gentle’. It is a topographical Korean surname. This Korean surname refers to the ‘water in which rice has been rinsed’. This last name is associated with Korean actress and writer Diana Bang. It is a variant of Juan. Sin is a variant of ‘Xin’ and is a topographical last name. Gang is a Korean surname derived from the Chinese word Jiang referring to ‘ginger’. Zhang has now become one of the most common names in China. 37. Ok meaning "oak tree". Romanization []. Another meaning refers to ‘vermilion red’ or ‘cinnabar’. In Korea, this surname is also popularly called ‘Tong’. Jun originated from the Chinese character and refers to ‘talented’ or ‘handsome’. This surname originated in China and refers to ‘bridge’. 10. Xin was the name of an ancient state in the Xia dynasty. 68. All rights reserved. Here, you may fall into your first dilemma. Nahm or Nam are very common Korean last names that refer to ‘south’. North Korea, South Korea, Jeju Island, and several other mini islands together constitute the Korean peninsula. Tan is derived from ‘Chen’ and refers to ‘an exhibit’ or ‘display’. Hahm is a western Korean occupational surname and means ‘seller of weighing scales’. Spoken in the first tone: Zhāng. 46. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. The super-popular K-pop boy bands of South Korea, such as BTS and Monsta X, use their first names, and not their surnames, as their professional name. 41. It is a spelling variant of 'Lee' or 'Li'. In a study by the National Institute of the Korean Language based on 2007 application data for South Korean passports, it was found that 84.5% of people with this surname spelled it in Latin letters as Jang in their passports.Another 14.9% spelled it as Chang, and 0.2% as Zhang. 49. Ryu meaning "willow tree". A variant of 'Chon' or 'Chun.' Lee (Korean surname) Lee, I, or Yi (이) is the second-most-common surname in Korea, behind Kim (Gim).Historically, 李 was officially written as Ni (니) in Korea.The spelling officially changed to I (이) in 1933 when the initial sound rule (두음법칙) was established. This Korean surname is a variant of Moon, derived from ‘Wen’. 71. Ku is a variant of ‘Gu’ or ‘Goo’ which means a ‘tool’ or ‘utensil’. The population of Korea includes natives from the neighboring countries too. It is the most common Korean last name. Kim is the most common Korean last name and is a variant of ‘Jin’ referring to ‘gold’. 23. It is formed from the word 'Zhou'. Korean form of JIN, from Sino-Korean 金 meaning "gold". Roh or Ro is derived from the Chinese word ‘Lu’ meaning a ‘musical note’. LEE (2) 이, 李 Korean , Chinese . Ken Jeong is a Korean-American actor known for 'Crazy Rich Asians'. Chin is derived from ‘Chen’ and refers to ‘exhibit’ or ‘ancient’. Chu meaning "vermilion red". Yeon meaning "beautiful; graceful". Mong is a unique Korean surname that is a variant of ‘Meng’ and refers to ‘suffer’ or ‘ignorance’. 11. 69. In the 1930 census, there was a significantly larger number of Kils living in Korea; it was the 62nd most common name in Korea. 70. Pan also refers to the stream that flows into the Han river. Wang is another Korean last name that originated in China and refers to ‘king’ or ‘monarch’. For instance, two cousins from the same generation might be named Ahn Yujin and Ahn Jaemo, with Ahn being their family name at the generational level. It is derived from the word ‘Im’ or ‘Lin’ referring to a ‘forest’. Ki is derived from a Chinese word and refers to a ‘tree’ or ‘wood’. South Korean actress Yoon Da-gyeong has this last name. If you try to romanize it in Korean as it is spelled (which would be ‘ja-ne’), it would be sound like ‘자-네’, which really doesn’t sound anything like ‘Jane’. The Korean surname has its roots in Japan and China. Jang, Chang and (less often) Zang are romanizations of the common Korean surname undefined, previously several separate surnames derived from the Chinese surnames Zhang ( Hanja undefined), Zhang (undefined), Zhuang (undefined) and Jiang (undefined). Ma Dong-Seok is a Korean-American actor known for 'Train To Busan'. 85. It is a spelling variant of ‘Zhi’ and refers to a ‘branch’ or a ‘limb’. Most Korean names consist of two or three syllables. Sa it is an unusual name and one of the rarest South Korean surnames. Jee means 'will' or 'ambition'. 3. (N) denotes North Korea. Here are some of the most common Korean last names. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. Kidadl has lots of great names articles to inspire you. Gim 4. Ye is a Korean last name with China origins and refers to a ‘leaf’. A famous Korean actress with this name is Wang Ji-Hye. Myung meaning "bright or brilliant." Mok is a derivation of the Chinese word ‘Mo’ that means ‘screen’ or ‘curtain’. In the past, I also shared in the struggle. 91. All of the Korean Chang clans had their origins in China, and, apart from the T{ou}ksu Chang clan and the Ch{ou}lgang Chang clan, they all originated from a … 45. Pan meaning "rinsed water from washing rice". It is a form of 'Cho,' derived from 'Zhao'. Ahn is one of the most commonly found last names in Korea and it refers to ‘tranquility’. See if you can find any of the Korean last names of your favorite K-drama characters in this list? Kwan is a Korean variant of the Chinese word ‘Guan’ and refers to ‘frontier pass’. It is a variant of ‘Ko’ referring to ‘high’. Seo is a Sino-Korean word that evolved as a surname, and means ‘calm’ or ‘poised’. They lived in the Chinese and Korean peninsular regions. 51. Moon is the Korean form of the Chinese word ‘Wen’ that means ‘culture’ or ‘literature’. This is to differentiate their names from the more common family names in Korea, most of which are not even officially registered! A commonly cited factoid from the 1990 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records estimated that Zhang was the most common surname in the world, but no comprehensive information from China was available at the time and more recent editions have not repeated the claim. Usage. Let’s have a look at some of the top surnames that are most common in the Koreas. It is formed from the word 'Yin'. Other surname variants include 'Ji' or 'Zhi'. 7. Jung is formed from Zheng, an ancient state in China. In meaning "stamp or India". 解 Jiě a name implying "a solution". 4. It is derived from the ancient state of Zhu, and was also the family name of emperors of the Ming dynasty. The historical last name descended from the five Shin Clans who lived in the Chinese and Korean peninsular regions. Pai is derived from ‘Bai’ or ‘Pei’. 92. Zhang (/ dʒ ɑː ŋ /) is the pinyin romanization of the very common Chinese surname written 张 in simplified characters and 張 traditionally.It is spoken in the first tone: Zhāng.It is a surname that exists in many languages and cultures, corresponding to the surname 'Archer' in English for example. Although, with the onset of globalization, this is gradually changing. Bang meaning "room". 54. Gang. Jong is a spelling variant of ‘Jeong’ derived from ‘Zheng’ that was an ancient state. 39. 50. South Korean track and field sprinter Sun-Kuk Jin has this surname. It is a Korean family name originated from the Chinese word 'Jiang'. Positive Family Resolutions For Post Lockdown: Changing "Normal" For The Better, 50 Old-Fashioned Life Skills To Teach Your Kids In Lockdown, Messy Play Activities For Babies Aged 6-12 Months, 11 Tips For Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions This Time. Kwack meaning "the outer part of a city; country". Popular BTS K-pop singer Min. Korean independence activist Bong-Gil Yun carries this surname. Zhang is the pinyin romanization of the very common Chinese surname written 张 in simplified characters and 張 traditionally.It is spoken in the first tone: Zhāng.. 65. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. It refers to ‘clever’ or ‘smart’. Let’s take the name Jane for example. Do is derived from the word ‘Dao’ that refers to ‘a path’ or ‘a roadway’. Kaish (Indonesian) means “love” Kaliyanei (Cambodian) means “beautiful, lovely” Kamon (Thai) means “heart, mind” Rare alternative spellings included Jahng and Jean. Together, these top three surnames made up slightly more than half of the Korean population (based on South Korea … Cho meaning "an ancient city". People are given their first name and surname together in Korea. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. 79. It comes from 'Zhu', a Chinese word. Shim or Sim is a Korean surname. List Of Top Korean Surnames Or Last Names, 20th Week Pregnancy: Symptoms, Baby Development And Bodily Changes, 9 Health Benefits Of Eating Mangoes In Pregnancy. 3. If you have an interesting Korean surname or know of any, do share it with us in the comment section below. Geun-young meaning "rooted and brave". How do you say Zhang (surname)? Korean author Victor Cha is known by this surname. Inspired by Gao Chai discipline of Confucius. 29. It is a toponymic last name coming from the name of an ancient state of Zhu. New!! Sounds interesting? Popular Korean actor and screenwriter Gene Hong has this last name. Delete Kwak is a spelling variant of ‘Gwak’ and ‘Guo’ meaning to ‘the outer part of a city or country’. Pu is a spelling variant of ‘Pak’ derived from ‘Bak’ referring to ‘unadorned’ or ‘simple’. 59. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Bak meaning "fruit". Kim meaning "gold". 28. Korean films, food, music, language, and culture have gained worldwide popularity. Jung 정 is a Korean surname, which is the Korean counterpart of Zhang, which is a Chinese kingdom. It is located in the Jiangsu province. Something went wrong while submitting the form. See more » Kim (Korean surname) Kim (occasionally romanized as Gim) is the most common surname in the Korean Peninsula, accounting for nearly 22% of the population. Another meaning of this Korean surname means ‘jade’. Im meaning "forest". There are many who struggle with pronouncing it correctly. Please read our Disclaimer. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. 81. 14. 40. Chinese : from the name of an area called Zhang in present-day Shandong province. 43. 84. Liu (刘) Liu is the king’s surname in the Han dynasty. Kwak meaning "the outer part of a city or country". Jong meaning "ancient state". It can also mean ‘edge’ or ‘border’. It was an ancient city in Shanxi province. It is formed from 'Chen.' It is derived from the word ‘Yin’ and refers to ‘stamp’ or ‘India’. 66. The name has a Chinese origin. 64. This name was made famous by a member of the popular girl group 'Baby VOX', Kan Mi Yeon. The use of it as a surname might have started as an adoption of the "Zheng" in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan where the family once ruled. 74. 涂料 Túliào is a surname that means "paint". 52. Read our Sponsorship & Advertising Policy. :) Putting them all together, you'll get 정하늘 or Jung Ha-neul. 36. 42. It is a form of 'Ko'. Let’s take the surname 张 (zhāng) for these examples. This historical surname is derived from the family name of 165 clans who were the emperors of Cholla South province, Old Choson kingdom, So Shin-il etc. Korean activist Kwan-bin Ok made this name famous. North Korean soccer player Kwang-min Ju has this last name. It is in the Henan province, it is a common Korean surname that is a variant of the toponymic last name 'Zheng'. Ju meaning "circumference". Tang - it is derived from the ruler of Tang dynasty. Derived from the word 'Lin'. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! Writing a character is tough, but picking out the perfect name is even tougher. Derived from ‘Zhang,’ this surname refers to ‘stretch’ or ‘extend’. Jang meaning "archer," and is a spelling variant of 'Zhang.'. The other variant of the surname is ‘Kang’. It is a spelling variant of 'Kwon' or 'Quan.'. Jeon meaning "field". Kuk is derived from the Chinese word ‘Guo’ and refers to ‘country’. ... Zhang (surname) Pinyin romanization of the very common Chinese surname written undefined in simplified characters and undefined in traditional characters. The thing is complicated by the fact, that many Chinese living abroad often change the order of their name or use their given name as a surname, etc. Shine Kuk is a South Korean actress. 하늘 is uncommon, but it has a good meaning. Ko is a habitational surname and refers to the descendants of the Korean peninsula or Ko dynasty. 5. Pu meaning "simple". Other surname variants include 'Ji' or 'Zhi'. Suk is a variant of ‘Shu’ and means ‘ancient’ or ‘stone’. 张先生 (zhāng xiānsheng) is Mr Zhang. There is one Chinese character for the Kil surname. 13. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. Song descended as the last name from the Song dynasty. 83. Gimhae Gim clan is a Korean clan. Jeong this surname is formed from an ancient state 'Zheng', a state in China. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Ho meaning "brave or fierce." 55. This is a list of Korean names, in Hangul alphabetical order. Yoo (Korean surname) Distribution. 75. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Sun Bin compares the distribution of surnames in Korea with that in China, where the top three Han Chinese surnames (Li 李, Wang 王, Zhang 张) account for only 23% of the total, but the top fifteen account for 51% of the total. It is a variant of 'Jin'. Hahm meaning "seller of weighing scales". This Korean surname refers to ‘profound’ or ‘mysterious’. 35. This last name migrated to Korea from China and refers to ‘firewood’ or ‘brushwood’. This last name originated in the Korean peninsula. It is a variant of Baik or Paik, referring to white color. This is derived from the Chinese word ‘Huang’ referring to ‘yellow’. Ahn, also romanized An, is a Korean family name. 39. Sign in to disable ALL ads. Chong meaning "stretch or extend". Cha meaning "a chariot". 25. Han refers to ‘country’ or ‘leader’. . Jang, Chang and (less often) Zang are romanizations of the common Korean surname 장, previously several separate surnames derived from the Chinese surnames Zhang (Hanja 張), Zhang (章), Zhuang (莊) and Jiang (蔣). 12. Ji-hye (Korean) ji means “wisdom” and hye means “bright.” Ji-hye was the most popular name for baby girls in South Korea in 1980, 1988, and 1990. Also spelled as Jeon, this Korean last name refers to a ‘field’. Suh is a variant of 'So,' and is derived from the family name of the ancestors and emperors of Old Choson Kingdom. Korean culture is interesting and so are its last names. Jang-hoon meaning "wisdom in the middle". This surname also is a variant of ‘Hwang’. Jang meaning "archer," and is a spelling variant of 'Zhang.' Heo meaning "to permit or advocate". 48. Chai (Chinese origin) meaning "firewood". If you liked our suggestions for Korean last names then why not take a look at these Belgian last names, or for something different take a look at these Thai last names. For many writers, a character comes to life once they’re given a name. Min is a first name that later evolved as a last name. Derived from the word ‘Zhou’, Ju refers to ‘circumference’. 48. This surname is made famous by South Korean politician Young Chin. Ju meaning "circumference". The surname precedes the given name. It is a form of Jeong. It is a toponymic Korean last name. Jeon meaning "field". Lin is a popular Korean last name with origins in China and refers to a ‘forest’. This is derived from a Chinese surname Bian that has various references such as ‘excitable’ or ‘impatient’. Pak is derived from the Sino-Korean word ‘Bak’ meaning ‘plain’ or ‘unadorned’. Woo is an ancient state of 'Wu'. (The North Korean government does not publish such data.) Zhang in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio Newspapers (Source: CompuGen Systems) ($) This last name was passed on by T’ak Chi-yop, who was a scholar from Koryo Kingdom. Cheong meaning "quiet or gentle". This surname is a variant of ‘So’. 76. Kong is derived from a Chinese word and refers to ‘empty’ or ‘hollow’ and ‘sky’. 99. Zhang (张) Zhang is the quantifier of the bow and arrow. Keng derived from the Chinese surname 'Jiang'. Chung is a common Korean surname that is a variant of the toponymic last name ‘Zheng’. Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. This Korean last name refers to ‘grandchild’ or ‘descendant’. What Are The Benefits Of Folic Acid Before Pregnancy? Zhang, and it can refer to either a married or unmarried woman. Oops! This surname is a variant of Juan that means ‘beautiful’ or ‘graceful’. It is one of the rarest Korean surnames. 97. You (Chinese origin) meaning "reason". Other forms of this last name our 'Hahn' and 'Haan'. It is derived from the Sino-Korean word Yun meaning ‘to govern’ or ‘eldest’. With a rich culture and history behind them, Korean surnames are surrounded by a multitude of interesting stories and facts. This last name originated in China, which was ruled by the Tang dynasty from 618 to 907. It is a spelling form of 'Jeong,' formed from 'Zheng'. I hope you liked it! 8. 56. This is a toponymic last name. 41. This last name is associated with South Korean football player Ho-young Byun. It is a western Korean occupational surname. Picking the right one not only gives your main character’s name the right ring, but the […]