Zhang
The origin of the surname Zhang
Zhang is the character 張, “to stretch” or “draw a bow.”
How Chinese surnames work
Chinese surnames — the “family name” — come first, before the given name, and a relatively small set of names is shared by enormous numbers of people (Wang, Li and Zhang are among the most common surnames on earth). Each is written with a single Chinese character carrying its own meaning, and many trace back thousands of years to ancient clans, states, noble titles or places. The character is the surname, so its meaning is fixed by the specific hanzi.
Variants & spellings
- Chang
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Zhang mean?
The surname Zhang means Draw a bow (張). Zhang is the character 張, “to stretch” or “draw a bow.”
Where does the surname Zhang come from?
Zhang is a surname of Chinese origin.
What kind of surname is Zhang?
Zhang is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Zhang in the United States?
Zhang is the 963rd most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 33,202 people.