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. Lists below are arranged alphabetically by their Mandarin pinyin spellings.
Native Chinese compound surnames
| Chinese characters | Meaning or origin | Mandarin (Pinyin) | Cantonese (Jyutping) | Hokkien (POJ) | Vietnamese | Korean | Japanese | Notable people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 百里 | Hundred li | Bǎilǐ | Baak3 Lei5 | Bách Lý | Baengni; Baengri (백리) | Hyakuri | Baili Xi | |
| 淳于 | An ancient Chinese kingdom | Chúnyú | Seon4 Jyu1 | Thuần Vu | Sun-u (순우) | Jun'u | Chunyu Qiong | |
| 第五 | The fifth | Dìwǔ | Dai6 Ng5 | Đệ Ngũ | Je-o (제오) | Daigo | Diwu Qi | |
| 東方 (东方) | "East", descendants of Fuxi clan according to legend | Dōngfāng | Dung1 Fong1 | Đông Phương | Dongbang (동방) | Tōhō | Dongfang Shuo (東方朔) | |
| 東閣 (东阁) | "Eastern Pavilion" | Dōnggé | Dung1 Gok3 | Đông Các | Donggak (동각) | Tōkaku | ||
| 東郭 (东郭) | "Eastern Wall" | Dōngguō | Dung1 Gwok3 | Đông Quách | Donggwak (동곽) | Tōkaku | ||
| 東門 (东门) | "East Gate", place of residence, from Zhou dynasty | Dōngmén | Dung1 Mun4 | Đông Môn | Dongmun (동문) | Tōmon | ||
| 端木 | Duānmù | Dyun1 Muk6 | Tuan-bo̍k | Đoan Mộc | Danmok (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 Syun1 | Kong-sun | Công Tôn | Gongson (공손) | Kōson | Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Long |
| 公羊 | Branch of Gongsun | Gōngyáng | Gung1 Joeng4 | Kong-iông | Công Dương | Gong-yang (공양) | Kōyō | Gongyang Gao (公羊高) |
| 公冶 | Branch of Ji, from courtesy name of Jiye (季冶) of Lu in the Eastern Zhou dynasty | Gōngyě | Gung1 Je5 | Công Dã | Gong-ya (공야) | Kōya | Gongye Chang (公冶長) | |
| 公西 | Gōngxī | Gung1 Sai1 | Công Tây | Gongseo (공서) | Kōsai | Gongxi Chi (公西赤) | ||
| 毌丘 | Place name | Guànqiū | Kwun3 Jau1 | Quán Khâu | Gwan-gu (관구) | Kankyū | Guanqiu Jian | |
| 穀梁 (谷梁) | Sorghum grains (?) | Gǔliáng | Guk1 Loeng4 | Cốc Lương | Gongnyang; 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 Pou2 | Hông-hú | Hoàng Phủ | Hwangbo (황보) | Kōfu | Huangfu Song, Huangfu Ran (皇甫冉) |
| 黄斯 | Huangsi | Hoàng Tư | ||||||
| 蘭向(兰向) | Lanxiang | Lan Hướng | ||||||
| 令狐 | Place name | Línghú | Ling6 Wu4 | Lîng-hô· | Lệnh Hồ | Yeongho; Ryeongho (령호) | Reiko | Linghu Chu |
| 甪里 | Place name | Lùlǐ | Luk6 Lei5 | Lộ Lý | Nongni; Rongri (록리) | Rokuri | ||
| 閭丘 (闾丘) | Place name | Lǘqiū | Leoi4 Jau1 | Lư Khâu | Yeogu; Ryeogu (려구) | Ryokyū | Luqiu Luwei (閭丘露薇) | |
| 南宮 (南宫) | Southern Palace | Nángōng | Naam4 Gung1 | Nam Cung | Namgung (남궁) | Nankyū | Nangong Kuo (Western Zhou) | |
| 歐陽 (欧阳) | South of Mt. Ou Yu | Ōuyáng | Au1Joeng4 | Au-iông | Âu Dương | Gu-yang (구양) | Ōyō | Jimmy O. Yang |
| 上官 | High official (place name) | Shàngguān | Soeng6 Gun1 | Siōng-koan | Thượng Quan | Sanggwan (상관) | Shōkan | Empress Shangguan, Shangguan Wan'er, Shangguan Yunxiang |
| 申屠 | Shēntú | San1 Tou4 | Thân Đồ | Sindo (신도) | Shinto | Shentu 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 Maa5 | Su-má | Tư Mã | Sama (사마) | Shiba | Sima Qian, emperors of the Jin dynasty |
| 司徒 | "Minister over the Masses", one of the Three Excellencies from the Han dynasty | Sītú | Si1 Tou4 (SooHoo in Toisan) | Su-tô· | Tư Đồ | Sado (사도) | Shito | Szeto Wah, Sitoh Yih Pin |
| 司空 | "Minister of Works", one of the Three Excellencies from the Han dynasty | Sīkōng | Si1 Hung1 | Tư Không | Sagong (사공) | Shikū | Sikong Ting (司空頲) | |
| 司寇 | "Minister of Justice" | Sīkòu | Si1 Kau3 | Tư Khấu | Sagu (사구) | Shikō | ||
| 太史 | "Grand Historian", an imperial official title | Tàishǐ | Taai3 Si2 | Thái Sử | Taesa (태사) | Taishi | Taishi Ci | |
| 澹臺 (澹台) | Tántái | Taam4 Toi4 | Đam Đài | Damdae (담대) | Tantai | Tantai Mieming | ||
| 聞人 (闻人) | "famous person", descendants of Shaozheng Mao (少正卯) | Wénrén | Man4 Jan4 | Văn Nhân | Mun-in (문인) | Bunjin | ||
| 巫馬 (巫马) | "Horse" | Wūmǎ | Ng5 Maa5 | Vu Mã | Uma (우마)) | Goba | Wuma 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 | Xiàhóu | Haa6 Hau6 | Hā-hô͘ | Hạ Hầu | Hahu (하후) | Kakō | Xiahou Ying, Xiahou Dun |
| 鮮于 (鲜于) | Xiānyú | Sin1 Jyu1 | Tiên Vu | Seon-u (선우) | Sen'u | Xianyu 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 Mun4 | Tây Môn | Seomun (서문) | Saimon | Ximen Bao | |
| 軒轅 (轩辕) | The (personal) name of the Yellow Emperor | Xuānyuán | Hin1 Jyun4 | Hian-oàn | Hiên Viên | Heon-won (헌원) | Ken'en | Yellow Emperor |
| 楊子 (杨子) | A branch of 楊 (Yang) | Yángzǐ | Joeng4 Zi2 | Dương Tử | Yangja (양자) | Yōshi | ||
| 樂正 (乐正) | Minister of music | Yuèzhèng | Ngok6 Zing3 | Nhạc Chính | Akjeong (악정) | Gakusei | ||
| 鍾離 (钟离) | A country in Chunqiu | Zhōnglí | Zung1 Lei4 | Chung Ly | Jongni; Jongri (종리) | Shōri | Zhongli Mu (鐘離牧), Zhongli Mo | |
| 諸葛 (诸葛) | A branch of 葛 (Ge) | Zhūgě | Zyu1 Got3 | Chu-kat | Gia Cát (Chư Cát) | Jegal (제갈) | Shokatsu | Jegal Je-min Zhuge Liang |
| 祝融 | God of Fire | Zhùróng | Zuk1 Jung4 | Chúc Dung | Chug-yung (축융) | Shukuyū | Lady Zhurong | |
| 子車 (子车) | Zǐjū | Zi2 Geoi1 | Tử Xa | Jageo (자거) | Shikyo | |||
| 左人 | Left-handed man | Zuǒrén | Zo2 Jan4 | Tả Nhân | Jwa-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 | Fànjiāng | Hoān-khiong | Phạm Khương | Fan Chiang Tai-chi | |||
| 陸費 (陆费) | Lùfèi (Lùbì) | Luk6 Fai3 | Lục Phí | Yugbi; Ryugbi (륙비) | Rikuhi | Lufei Kui | |
| 葉劉 (叶刘) | Yèliú | Ia̍p-lâu | Diệp Lưu | ||||
| 張簡 (张简) | Zhāngjiǎn | Tiuⁿ-kán | Trương Giản | Louis Ozawa Changchien | |||
| 張廖 (张廖) | Zhāngliào | Tiuⁿ-liāu | Trương 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/Origin | Origin | Mandarin (Pinyin) | Cantonese (Jyutping) | Hokkien (POJ) | Vietnamese | Korean | Japanese | Notable People |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 阿史那 | Wolf (cf. Asena) | Possibly Turkic | Āshǐnà | Aa3 Si2 Naa5 | A Sử Na | Asana (아사나) | Ashina | Empress Ashina | |
| 愛新覺羅 (爱新觉罗) | Gold | Manchu | Àixīnjuéluó (Aisin Gioro) | Oi3 San1 Gok3 Lo4 | Ài-sin-kak-lô | Ái Tân Giác La | Aesin-gangna; Aesin-gangra (애신각라) | Aishinkakura | Qing rulers |
| 孛兒只斤 (孛儿只斤) | Mongol | Bó'érzhījīn (Borjigin) | But6 Ji4 Zi2 Gan1 | Bột Nhi Chỉ Cân (Bát Nhĩ Tế Cát Đặc) | Bar-ajigeun (발아지근) | Botsujishikin | Genghis Khan | ||
| 獨孤 (独孤) | Xianbei | Dúgū | Duk6 Gu1 | Độc Cô | Dokgo (독고) | Dokko/Dokuko | Dugu Qieluo | ||
| 爾朱 (尔朱) | Xiongnu | Erzhu | Ji5 Zyu1 | Nhĩ Chu | Iju (이주) | Jishu | Erzhu Rong, Erzhu Zhao | ||
| 賀蘭 (贺兰) | Helan Mountains | Xianbei | Hèlán | Ho6 Laan4 | Hạ Lan | Haran (하란) | Garan | Princess Dowager Helan | |
| 赫連 (赫连) | Xiongnu | Hèlián | Haak1 Lin4 | Hách Liên | Hyeongnyeon; Hyeongryeon (혁련) | Kakuren | Helian Bobo | ||
| 賀若 (贺若) | Xianbei | Hèruò | Ho6 Joek6 | Hạ Nhược | Ha-yak (하약) | Kajaku | Heruo Bi (賀若弼) | ||
| 赫舍里 | Water spring | Manchu | Hèsheli | Haak1 Se2 Lei5 | Hách Xá Lý | Hyeoksari (혁사리) | Kakushari | Hešeri Sonin, Empress Xiaochengren, Songgotu | |
| 万俟 | Xianbei | Mòqí | Mak6 Kei4 | Mặc Kỳ | Mansa (만사) | Bokuji | Moqi Chounu (万俟醜奴) | ||
| 慕容 | Xianbei | Mùróng | Mou6 Jung4 | Bō·-iông | Mộ Dung | Mo-yong (모용) | Boyū | Murong Huang | |
| 納蘭 (纳兰) | Variant of 叶赫那拉 (Yehenala) | Manchu | Nàlán | Naap6 Laan4 | Nạp Lan | Namnan; Namran (납란) | Nōran | Nalan Xingde | |
| 星团 | Xīngtuán | Shin-dan (신단) | |||||||
| 呼延 | Xiongnu | Hūyán | Fu1 Jin4 | Hô Diên | Ho-yeon (호연) | Koen | Empress Huyan, Huyan Zan | ||
| 沙吒 | Göktürk | Shāzhā | Saa1 Zaa1 | Sa Tra | Sata (사타) | Sata | Shazha Zhongyi (沙吒忠義) | ||
| 拓跋 | Xianbei | Tuòbá | Tok3 Bat6 | Thác Bạt | Takbal (탁발) | Takubatsu | Emperors of Northern Wei, formerly surname of Tangut rulers, Western Xia | ||
| 完顏 (完颜) | Jurchen | Wányán | Jyun4 Ngaan4 | Hoàn Nhan | Wan-an (완안) | Kangan | Wanyan Aguda | ||
| 耶律 | Khitan | Yēlǜ | Ye4 Leut6 | Da Luật (Gia Luật) | Ya-yul (야율) | Yaritsu/Jaritsu | Emperors of Liao dynasty, Yelü Chucai | ||
| 尉遲 (尉迟) | Xianbei | Yùchí | Wat1 Ci4 | Uất Trì (Úy Trì) | Ulji (울지) | Utchi/Utsuchi | Yuchi Jingde, Yuchi Jiong | ||
| 宇文 | Xianbei | Yǔwén | Jyu5 Man4 | Vũ Văn | Umun (우문) | Ubun | Yuwen Tai, emperors of Northern Zhou | ||
| 長孫 (长孙) | Xianbei | Zhǎngsūn | Zoeng2 Syun1 | Trưởng Tôn | Jangson (장손) | Chōson | Zhangsun Wuji, Empress Zhangsun (wife of Emperor Taizong of Tang) | ||
See also
External links
Look up Category:Chinese compound surnames in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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