Common Chinese Surnames
A practical guide to Chinese surnames and family names—covering characters, Mandarin Pinyin, Cantonese Jyutping, and Hong Kong English spellings when verified.
Chinese Surnames vs Family Names
In English, “Chinese surname,” “Chinese family name,” and “Chinese last name” usually point to the same concept: the inherited family name. In Chinese naming order, that name comes first. So “last name” is an English habit of speech, not a description of Chinese name structure.
Most Common Chinese Surnames
The table below uses the verified Cantonese / Hong Kong surname catalog. Each row shows Traditional and Simplified forms, Mandarin Pinyin, Cantonese Jyutping, and curated Hong Kong English spellings when available.
| Traditional | Simplified | Mandarin | Jyutping | HK English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 陳 | 陈 | Chén | Can4 | Chan |
| 李 | 李 | Lǐ | Lei5 | Lee / Li |
| 黃 | 黄 | Huáng | Wong4 | Wong |
| 張 | 张 | Zhāng | Zoeng1 | Cheung |
| 王 | 王 | Wáng | Wong4 | Wong |
| 梁 | 梁 | Liáng | Loeng4 | Leung |
| 吳 | 吴 | Wú | Ng4 | Ng |
| 林 | 林 | Lín | Lam4 | Lam |
| 鄭 | 郑 | Zhèng | Zeng6 | Cheng |
| 何 | 何 | Hé | Ho4 | Ho |
| 謝 | 谢 | Xiè | Ze6 | Tse |
| 馬 | 马 | Mǎ | Maa5 | Ma |
| 葉 | 叶 | Yè | Jip6 | Yip / Ip |
| 羅 | 罗 | Luó | Lo4 | Lo / Law |
| 蔡 | 蔡 | Cài | Coi3 | Choi |
| 鄧 | 邓 | Dèng | Dang6 | Tang |
| 馮 | 冯 | Féng | Fung4 | Fung |
| 許 | 许 | Xǔ | Heoi2 | Hui |
| 鍾 | 钟 | Zhōng | Zung1 | Chung |
| 譚 | 谭 | Tán | Taam4 | Tam |
| 劉 | 刘 | Liú | Lau4 | Lau |
| 楊 | 杨 | Yáng | Joeng4 | Yeung |
| 趙 | 赵 | Zhào | Ziu6 | Chiu |
| 周 | 周 | Zhōu | Zau1 | Chow |
| 朱 | 朱 | Zhū | Zyu1 | Chu |
| 郭 | 郭 | Guō | Gwok3 | Kwok |
| 曾 | 曾 | Zēng | Zang1 | Tsang |
| 潘 | 潘 | Pān | Pun1 | Poon |
| 胡 | 胡 | Hú | Wu4 | Wu / Woo |
| 余 | 余 | Yú | Jyu4 | Yu / Yue |
| 蘇 | 苏 | Sū | Sou1 | So |
| 黎 | 黎 | Lí | Lai4 | Lai |
| 盧 | 卢 | Lú | Lou4 | Lo |
| 邱 | 邱 | Qiū | Jau1 | Yau |
| 袁 | 袁 | Yuán | Jyun4 | Yuen |
| 唐 | 唐 | Táng | Tong4 | Tong |
| 溫 | 温 | Wēn | Wan1 | Wan |
| 蕭 | 萧 | Xiāo | Siu1 | Siu |
| 莫 | 莫 | Mò | Mok6 | Mok |
| 呂 | 吕 | Lǚ | Leoi5 | Lui |
| 區 | 区 | Ōu | Au1 | Au |
Common English spellings can correspond to different Chinese characters or family histories. Do not treat a spelling such as Chan as always meaning only one character.
Chinese Surname Pronunciation
Pronunciation depends on the language context. Mandarin speakers use Pinyin readings. Cantonese speakers use different syllables and tones, which Jyutping records more accurately for Cantonese. For spoken practice in Hong Kong or Cantonese communities, prefer Jyutping over Mandarin Pinyin.
Mandarin vs Cantonese
Mandarin
Uses Pinyin (for example 陳 → Chén, 張 → Zhāng). Helpful for Mandarin learning and Mainland-facing contexts.
Cantonese
Uses different readings (for example 陳 → Can4, 張 → Zoeng1). Jyutping shows the Cantonese form with tone numbers.
Hong Kong Chinese Surnames
In Hong Kong, surnames are usually written in traditional characters and spoken in Cantonese. English documents often show a conventional family spelling such as Chan, Cheung, Wong, Lee, or Leung. Those English forms are local romanization habits—not linguistic systems like Jyutping or Pinyin.
English Spellings of Chinese Surnames
English spellings are useful for travel documents, email, and introductions, but they are not unique IDs. The same English spelling can map to more than one Chinese character across families, and one Chinese surname can have more than one English spelling. Always confirm the Chinese characters when accuracy matters.
Examples from this catalog: Wong is used for both 黃 and 王; Lo may represent 羅 or 盧. Do not treat an English surname spelling as a one-to-one key for a single Chinese character.
Traditional and Simplified Chinese Surnames
Hong Kong typically uses traditional characters (陳, 張, 黃). Mainland writing often uses simplified forms (陈, 张, 黄). Many surnames look the same in both systems (李, 王, 林). This page shows both forms from the verified catalog whenever they differ.
How Chinese Surnames Work
Surname first
A full Chinese name usually begins with the family name, then the given name.
Usually one character
Most surnames are a single character. Compound surnames exist but are less common.
Given name follows
The given name is typically one or two characters chosen for meaning and sound.
Related Tools
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Hong Kong Chinese Names
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Cantonese Name Converter
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Chinese Name Generator
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Chinese surname?
A Chinese surname is the family name that usually comes first in a full Chinese name. It is shared within a family line and is followed by a one- or two-character given name.
Are Chinese surnames the same as Chinese family names?
In everyday English, yes—people often use “surname,” “family name,” and “last name” for the same idea. In Chinese naming order, that family name appears first, not last.
How many Chinese surnames are there?
There are thousands of historical surnames, but a relatively small set covers most of the population. Common names such as 王, 李, 張/张, and 陳/陈 appear very frequently.
Is Mandarin Pinyin the same as Cantonese pronunciation?
No. Mandarin Pinyin shows Mandarin reading. Cantonese pronunciation is different and is often written with Jyutping. Hong Kong English spellings are a third system used on documents and cards.
Does Chan always mean 陳?
No. Chan is a common Hong Kong English spelling for 陳, but English spellings are not one-to-one. The same spelling can relate to different characters or family histories, and families may choose different romanizations.
How do Hong Kong Chinese surnames appear in English?
Many Hong Kong surnames use conventional English forms such as Chan, Cheung, Wong, Lee, or Leung. These are everyday spellings, not Jyutping and not Mandarin Pinyin.