Sun
The origin of the surname Sun
Sun is the character 孫, “grandson” or “descendant.”
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.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Sun mean?
The surname Sun means Grandson, descendant (孫). Sun is the character 孫, “grandson” or “descendant.”
Where does the surname Sun come from?
Sun is a surname of Chinese origin.
What kind of surname is Sun?
Sun is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Sun in the United States?
Sun ranks #2,228 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 14,962 people.