Chinese compound surname

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.

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	"butcher from Shen"	Shēntú	San¹ Tou⁴		Thân Đồ	Sindo (신도)	Shinto	Shentu Jian (申屠建)
司馬 (司马)	"Master of the Horse" or "Marshal", 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)	Dark blue eyes	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	Hayak (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	Mukgi (묵기)	Bokuji	Moqi Chounu (万俟醜奴)
慕容		Xianbei	Mùróng	Mou⁶ Jung⁴	Bō·-iông	Mộ Dung	Moyong (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
星團 (星团)	Band/group of stars		Xīngtuán	Sing¹ Tyun⁴			Shin-dan (신단)
呼延		Xiongnu	Hūyán	Fu¹ Jin⁴		Hô Diên	Hoyeon (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)	Yayul (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)^[1]	Eldest grandson	Xianbei	Zhǎngsūn	Zoeng² Syun¹		Trưởng Tôn	Jangson (장손)	Chōson	Zhangsun Wuji, Empress Zhangsun (wife of Emperor Taizong of Tang)
山口	Gateway/opening of the mountain	Japanese	Shānkǒu	San¹ Hau²	soaⁿ-kháu	Sơn Khẩu	Sangu (산구)	Yamaguchi	Yoshiko Yamaguchi (Shānkǒu Shūzǐ)

References

^ 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.

External links

The Ten-Thousand Families of Surnames from Netor (NETOR纪念:万家姓氏) (in simplified Chinese only)

[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.

[1]