Wang
The origin of the surname Wang
Wang, among the world’s most common surnames, is the character 王, “king.”
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 Wang mean?
The surname Wang means King (王). Wang, among the world’s most common surnames, is the character 王, “king.”
Where does the surname Wang come from?
Wang is a surname of Chinese origin.
What kind of surname is Wang?
Wang is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Wang in the United States?
Wang is the 438th most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 67,570 people.