Surname · Korean origin
Ko
Meaning
The surname Ko means High, tall (高).
Origin
Korean
Type
clan name
U.S. rank (2010)
#3,152
U.S. bearers (2010)
10,483
How common is it?
Ko ranks #3,152 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 10,483 people.
The origin of the surname Ko
Ko is written with the hanja 高, “high” or “tall.”
How Korean surnames work
Korean surnames are few in number but shared by huge populations — Kim, Lee (Yi) and Park alone account for a large share of all Koreans. Each is written with a hanja (a Chinese-origin character) and is tied to a clan or lineage identified by an ancestral seat (bongwan). The surname comes first, before the given name, and Korean women traditionally keep their own surname after marriage.
Variants & spellings
- Go
- Koh
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Ko mean?
The surname Ko means High, tall (高). Ko is written with the hanja 高, “high” or “tall.”
Where does the surname Ko come from?
Ko is a surname of Korean origin.
What kind of surname is Ko?
Ko is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Ko in the United States?
Ko ranks #3,152 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 10,483 people.