The Chinese Surname Ranking: How Common Is Your Last Name?

With 1.4 billion people sharing approximately 4,000 surnames, the distribution is heavily skewed. Here's the complete picture of Chinese surname frequency.

The Top 20 Chinese Surnames

The Distribution Curve

The top 100 surnames cover about 85% of the population. The remaining 15% share another 3,900 surnames. This extreme concentration makes Chinese surnames unique among world naming systems.

Regional Variations

Some surnames are more common in specific regions:

**陈 (Chén)** — Most common in southern China (Guangdong, Fujian)

**黄 (Huáng)** — Particularly common in Guangxi and Guangdong

**赵 (Zhào)** — Historically strong in northern China

Key Takeaways

Top 10 surnames cover ~40% of China's population

Top 100 surnames cover ~85% of the population

Surname distribution varies significantly by region

Over 3,900 surnames are shared by the remaining 15%

FAQ

Q: Is my Chinese surname common or rare? A: Check the ranking above. If it's in the top 100, it's quite common.

Q: Do Chinese people know the ranking of their surname? A: Most Chinese know whether their surname is common or rare, but exact rankings are specialized knowledge.

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