Chinese compound surname

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A Chinese compound surname is a Chinese surname using more than one character. Many of these compound surnames derive from Zhou dynasty Chinese noble and official titles, professions, place names and other areas, to serve a purpose. Some are originally from various tribes that lived in ancient China, while others were created by joining two one-character family names. Only a few of these names (e.g. Ouyang [歐陽/欧阳], Shangguan [上官], Sima [司馬/司马], Zhuge [諸葛/诸葛], Situ [司徒], Xiahou [夏侯], Huangfu [皇甫], and Huyan [呼延]) can still be found quite commonly in modern times with Ouyang, Shangguan, Sima and Situ appearing most frequently. Many clans eventually took on a single-character surname for various reasons.[ why? ] Lists below are arranged alphabetically by their Mandarin pinyin spellings.

Contents

Native Chinese compound surnames

Chinese characters Meaning or originMandarin
(Pinyin)
Cantonese
(Jyutping)
Hokkien
(POJ)
Vietnamese Korean Japanese Notable people
百里Hundred li BǎilǐBaak3 Lei5Bách LýBaengni; Baengri
(백리)
Hyakuri Baili Xi
淳于An ancient Chinese kingdom Chúnyú Seon4 Jyu1Thuần VuSun-u
(순우)
Jun'u Chunyu Qiong
第五 The fifthDìwǔDai6 Ng5Đệ NgũJe-o
(제오)
Daigo Diwu Qi
東方 (东方)"East", descendants of Fuxi clan according to legend Dōngfāng Dung1 Fong1Đông PhươngDongbang
(동방)
Tōhō Dongfang Shuo
(東方朔)
東閣 (东阁)"Eastern Pavilion"DōnggéDung1 Gok3Đông CácDonggak
(동각)
Tōkaku
東郭 (东郭)"Eastern Wall"DōngguōDung1 Gwok3Đông QuáchDonggwak
(동곽)
Tōkaku
東門 (东门)"East Gate", place of residence, from Zhou dynasty DōngménDung1 Mun4Đông MônDongmun
(동문)
Tōmon
端木 Duānmù Dyun1 Muk6Tuan-bo̍kĐoan MộcDanmok
(단목)
Tanboku Duanmu Ci
(端木賜),
San Duanmu
公孫 (公孙)"Dukes' descendants", an address of the noble descendants in the Spring and Autumn period Gōngsūn Gung1 Syun1Kong-sunCông TônGongson
(공손)
Kōson Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Long
公羊Branch of GongsunGōngyángGung1 Joeng4Kong-iôngCông DươngGong-yang
(공양)
KōyōGongyang Gao
(公羊高)
公冶Branch of Ji, from courtesy name of Jiye (季冶) of Lu in the Eastern Zhou dynasty GōngyěGung1 Je5Công DãGong-ya
(공야)
Kōya Gongye Chang
(公冶長)
公西GōngxīGung1 Sai1Công TâyGongseo
(공서)
Kōsai Gongxi Chi
(公西赤)
毌丘 Place name GuànqiūKwun3 Jau1Quán KhâuGwan-gu
(관구)
Kankyū Guanqiu Jian
穀梁 (谷梁)Sorghum grains (?)GǔliángGuk1 Loeng4Cốc LươngGongnyang; Gongryang
(곡량)
Kokuryō
皇甫Branch of Zi (子), from 皇父, the courtesy name of Huangfu Chongshi (皇父充石) of the Duchy of Song in the Eastern Zhou dynasty Huángfǔ Wong4 Pou2Hông-húHoàng PhủHwangbo
(황보)
Kōfu Huangfu Song,
Huangfu Ran
(皇甫冉)
黄斯HuangsiHoàng Tư
蘭向(兰向)LanxiangLan Hướng
令狐Place name Línghú Ling6 Wu4Lîng-hô·Lệnh HồYeongho; Ryeongho
(령호)
Reiko Linghu Chu
甪里Place nameLùlǐLuk6 Lei5Lộ LýNongni; Rongri
(록리)
Rokuri
閭丘 (闾丘)Place nameLǘqiūLeoi4 Jau1Lư KhâuYeogu; Ryeogu
(려구)
Ryokyū Luqiu Luwei
(閭丘露薇)
南宮 (南宫)Southern PalaceNángōngNaam4 Gung1Nam CungNamgung
(남궁)
Nankyū Nangong Kuo (Western Zhou)
歐陽 (欧阳)South of Mt. Ou Yu Ōuyáng Au1Joeng4Au-iôngÂu DươngGu-yang
(구양)
Ōyō Jimmy O. Yang
上官High official (place name) Shàngguān Soeng6 Gun1Siōng-koanThượng QuanSanggwan
(상관)
Shōkan Empress Shangguan, Shangguan Wan'er, Shangguan Yunxiang
申屠ShēntúSan1 Tou4Thân ĐồSindo
(신도)
ShintoShentu Jian
(申屠建)
司馬 (司马)"Master of the Horse" or "Marshall", one of the Three Excellencies from the Han dynasty Sīmǎ Si1 Maa5Su-máTư MãSama
(사마)
Shiba Sima Qian, emperors of the Jin dynasty
司徒"Minister over the Masses", one of the Three Excellencies from the Han dynastySītúSi1 Tou4 (SooHoo in Toisan)Su-tô·Tư ĐồSado
(사도)
Shito Szeto Wah, Sitoh Yih Pin
司空"Minister of Works", one of the Three Excellencies from the Han dynastySīkōngSi1 Hung1Tư KhôngSagong
(사공)
ShikūSikong Ting
(司空頲)
司寇"Minister of Justice"SīkòuSi1 Kau3Tư KhấuSagu
(사구)
Shikō
太史"Grand Historian", an imperial official title Tàishǐ Taai3 Si2Thái SửTaesa
(태사)
Taishi Taishi Ci
澹臺 (澹台)TántáiTaam4 Toi4Đam ĐàiDamdae
(담대)
Tantai Tantai Mieming
聞人 (闻人)"famous person", descendants of Shaozheng Mao (少正卯)WénrénMan4 Jan4Văn NhânMun-in
(문인)
Bunjin
巫馬 (巫马)"Horse"WūmǎNg5 Maa5Vu MãUma
(우마))
GobaWuma Shi
(巫馬施)
夏侯"Marquess Xia", from noble title granted to the descendants of Yu the Great by Duke of Lu in the Spring and Autumn period XiàhóuHaa6 Hau6Hā-hô͘Hạ HầuHahu
(하후)
Kakō Xiahou Ying,
Xiahou Dun
鮮于 (鲜于)XiānyúSin1 Jyu1Tiên VuSeon-u
(선우)
Sen'uXianyu Zhongtong
(鮮于仲通)
西門 (西门)"West Gate", place of residence, from Marquessate of Zheng in the Spring and Autumn period Xīmén Sai1 Mun4Tây MônSeomun
(서문)
Saimon Ximen Bao
軒轅 (轩辕)The (personal) name of the Yellow EmperorXuānyuánHin1 Jyun4Hian-oànHiên ViênHeon-won
(헌원)
Ken'en Yellow Emperor
楊子 (杨子)A branch of 楊 (Yang)YángzǐJoeng4 Zi2Dương TửYangja
(양자)
Yōshi
樂正 (乐正)Minister of musicYuèzhèngNgok6 Zing3Nhạc ChínhAkjeong
(악정)
Gakusei
鍾離 (钟离)A country in Chunqiu ZhōnglíZung1 Lei4Chung LyJongni; Jongri
(종리)
Shōri Zhongli Mu
(鐘離牧),
Zhongli Mo
諸葛 (诸葛)A branch of 葛 (Ge) Zhūgě Zyu1 Got3Chu-katGia Cát
(Chư Cát)
Jegal
(제갈)
Shokatsu Jegal Je-min
Zhuge Liang
祝融 God of Fire ZhùróngZuk1 Jung4Chúc DungChug-yung
(축융)
Shukuyū Lady Zhurong
子車 (子车)ZǐjūZi2 Geoi1Tử XaJageo
(자거)
Shikyo
左人Left-handed manZuǒrénZo2 Jan4Tả NhânJwa-in
(좌인)
Sajin

Double-barrelled surnames

Double-barrelled surname (雙姓) occurs sometimes when both families of a marriage wish to pass down their surnames, or when a child wishes to commemorate both the biological and foster parents. This is often distinguished from compound surnames (複姓), which cannot be split into two single-character surnames. A doubled-barrelled surname is also distinguished from a married name (冠夫姓), as married names are not passed down to the next generations.

Chinese Characters Mandarin
(Pinyin)
Cantonese
(Jyutping)
Hokkien
(POJ)
Vietnamese Korean Japanese Notable People
范姜FànjiāngHoān-khiongPhạm Khương Fan Chiang Tai-chi
陸費 (陆费)Lùfèi (Lùbì)Luk6 Fai3Lục PhíYugbi; Ryugbi
(륙비)
Rikuhi Lufei Kui
葉劉 (叶刘) Yèliú Ia̍p-lâuDiệp Lưu
張簡 (张简) Zhāngjiǎn Tiuⁿ-kánTrương Giản Louis Ozawa Changchien
張廖 (张廖)ZhāngliàoTiuⁿ-liāuTrương Liêu

Non-Han surnames

Peoples other than Han have resided in China and have their names transliterated into Chinese. A large number of these non-Han surnames contain more than one Chinese character.

Chinese Characters Meaning/OriginOriginMandarin
(Pinyin)
Cantonese
(Jyutping)
Hokkien
(POJ)
Vietnamese Korean Japanese Notable People
阿史那Wolf (cf. Asena)Possibly Turkic ĀshǐnàAa3 Si2 Naa5A Sử NaAsana
(아사나)
Ashina Empress Ashina
愛新覺羅
(爱新觉罗)
Gold Manchu Àixīnjuéluó
(Aisin Gioro)
Oi3 San1 Gok3 Lo4Ài-sin-kak-lôÁi Tân Giác LaAesin-gangna; Aesin-gangra
(애신각라)
Aishinkakura Qing rulers
孛兒只斤
(孛儿只斤)
Mongol Bó'érzhījīn
(Borjigin)
But6 Ji4 Zi2 Gan1Bột Nhi Chỉ Cân
(Bát Nhĩ Tế Cát Đặc)
Bar-ajigeun
(발아지근)
Botsujishikin Genghis Khan
獨孤 (独孤) Xianbei Dúgū Duk6 Gu1Độc CôDokgo
(독고)
Dokko/Dokuko Dugu Qieluo
爾朱 (尔朱) Xiongnu ErzhuJi5 Zyu1Nhĩ ChuIju
(이주)
Jishu Erzhu Rong,
Erzhu Zhao
賀蘭 (贺兰) Helan Mountains XianbeiHèlánHo6 Laan4Hạ LanHaran
(하란)
Garan Princess Dowager Helan
赫連 (赫连)XiongnuHèliánHaak1 Lin4Hách LiênHyeongnyeon; Hyeongryeon
(혁련)
Kakuren Helian Bobo
賀若 (贺若)XianbeiHèruòHo6 Joek6Hạ NhượcHa-yak
(하약)
KajakuHeruo Bi
(賀若弼)
赫舍里Water springManchuHèsheliHaak1 Se2 Lei5Hách Xá LýHyeoksari
(혁사리)
Kakushari Hešeri Sonin, Empress Xiaochengren, Songgotu
万俟XianbeiMòqíMak6 Kei4Mặc KỳMansa
(만사)
BokujiMoqi Chounu
(万俟醜奴)
慕容Xianbei Mùróng Mou6 Jung4Bō·-iôngMộ DungMo-yong
(모용)
Boyū Murong Huang
納蘭 (纳兰)Variant of 叶赫那拉 (Yehenala)ManchuNàlánNaap6 Laan4Nạp LanNamnan; Namran
(납란)
Nōran Nalan Xingde
星团XīngtuánShin-dan
(신단)
呼延Xiongnu Hūyán Fu1 Jin4Hô DiênHo-yeon
(호연)
Koen Empress Huyan,
Huyan Zan
沙吒 Göktürk ShāzhāSaa1 Zaa1Sa TraSata
(사타)
SataShazha Zhongyi
(沙吒忠義)
拓跋Xianbei Tuòbá Tok3 Bat6Thác BạtTakbal
(탁발)
TakubatsuEmperors of Northern Wei, formerly surname of Tangut rulers, Western Xia
完顏 (完颜) Jurchen WányánJyun4 Ngaan4Hoàn NhanWan-an
(완안)
Kangan Wanyan Aguda
耶律 Khitan YēlǜYe4 Leut6Da Luật
(Gia Luật)
Ya-yul
(야율)
Yaritsu/JaritsuEmperors of Liao dynasty,
Yelü Chucai
尉遲 (尉迟)Xianbei Yùchí Wat1 Ci4Uất Trì
(Úy Trì)
Ulji
(울지)
Utchi/Utsuchi Yuchi Jingde,
Yuchi Jiong
宇文Xianbei Yǔwén Jyu5 Man4Vũ VănUmun
(우문)
Ubun Yuwen Tai, emperors of Northern Zhou
長孫 (长孙) [1] XianbeiZhǎngsūnZoeng2 Syun1Trưởng TônJangson
(장손)
Chōson Zhangsun Wuji, Empress Zhangsun (wife of Emperor Taizong of Tang)

See also

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References

  1. 遠東簡明漢英辭典 (in Chinese). 遠東圖書公司. 編審委員會. 1997. p. 861. ISBN   9789576123467.