120 Korean Last Names or Surnames & Their Meanings
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Surnames keep a person connected to the families who came before us. Korean last names offer a great insight into the distinguishing features of a family, their occupations or the places they have lived. Most of the Korean family names are derived from a single syllable, which often depends on the parent’s generation. Throughout North and South Korea, the generation level and surname come before a person’s first name. The most common Korean last names are Kim, Lee, and Park, which collectively make up almost half of the Korean people. Nowadays, the new generation is also looking for uncommon Korean last names, and we have also listed those below.
120 Korean Surnames or Family Names With Meanings
Korea has a population of more than 50 million, and they have some unique and famous Korean last names, too. Here’s a list of 120 Korean family names along with their meanings.
1. Ahn
Ahn means ‘tranquillity’, and it is a commonly used surname in Korea.
2. An
An is a common surname in Korea which means ‘within’ or ‘back’.
3. Bae
Bae means ‘a pear’. It is also spelt as ‘Bai’.
4. Bai
The Korean last name Bai means ‘a pear’.
5. Bak
Bak is a popular surname which means ‘gourd’.
6. Baek
This Korean last name refers to the colour white.
7. Bang
This word is derived from a Korean word that means ‘room’.
8. Byun
Byun is taken from the Chinese nickname Bian, which has numerous meaning, such as ‘excitable’ or ‘impatient’. This may also mean ‘edge’ or ‘border’.
9. Cha
Cha is derived from a word which means ‘chariot’.
10. Chae
The surname Chae has descended from the Chaegal clan. The people of the Chae clan can be found in southern Ky{ou}ngsang and Ch{ou}lla provinces.
11. Chai
This surname was derived from China, and it means ‘firewood’.
12. Chang
Chang is another popular Chinese origin word, and it means ‘prosperous’ or ‘flourishing’.
13. Chay
Chay is another variant of the word Chai, and it means ‘brushwood’.
14. Cheong
This surname means ‘gentle or quite’.
15. Chew
This surname was derived from the state of Zhu. Chew was the family name of the emperors during the Ming Dynasty.
16. Chi
Chi is a famous name which refers to a ‘limb’ or ‘a branch’.
17. Chin
Chin surname is derived from the word ‘Chen’ which means ‘ancient’.
18. Cho
Cho was a famous city name of Shanxi province, and it was used as family names.
19. Choi
This surname is a Korean word which means ‘high tower or lofty’.
20. Chong
This surname is an occupational last name that originated from people who were involved in ‘bow-making’.
21. Chu
This comes from the Chinese word ‘Zhu’, which has two different meanings. It is referred to as a toponymic last name, corresponding to the name of the ancient state of Zhu. The name also means ‘vermilion red’.
22. Chun
Chun is a commonly used surname derived from a word which means ‘field’.
23. Do
This word is derived from the word ‘Dao’ that means ‘a path’.
24. Gang
Gang is a Korean family name originating from the Chinese word ‘Jiang’ which means ‘ginger’.
25. Gim
Gim is one of the top surnames derived from China. It means ‘gold’.
26. Goe
Goe is a Korean word which means ‘high’.
27. Goo
Goo is a variant of the Korean surname ‘Ku’ or ‘Gu’ that means a ‘tool’ or ‘utensil’.
28. Ha
Ha is a romanized derivative of ‘Xia’, and it means ‘summer’.
29. Hahm
Hahm is a Korean word for the West, which means ‘weighing scales seller’.
30. Ham
The surname Ham belongs to the Ham clan, which was founded by a Koryŏ general who fought against the Mongol invaders in the 13th century.
31. Han
Han is a Korean word which means ‘Country or a leader’.
32. Heo
Heo is an uncommon surname. It means ‘advocate’ or ‘to permit’.
33. Ho
Ho is a famous surname which means ‘brave’ or ‘fierce’.
34. Hong
Hong is a China originated word which means ‘great’.
35. Hwang
Hwang has a Chinese origin, and it means ‘Yellow’.
36. Hyun
Hyun is a unique Korean surname which means ‘profound’ or ‘mysterious’.
37. Im
This word has been derived from a Korean word ‘Lin’ which means ‘a forest’.
38. In
In is another unique surname which refers to ‘India’.
39. Jang
Jang means an ‘archer’ or ‘bowyer’.
40. Jee
Jee is derived from the word ‘Zhi’, and it means ‘will’ or ‘ambition’.
41. Jeon
Jeon is a common Korean last name meaning ‘field’.
42. Jeong
Jeong word is derived from the ancient word ‘Zheng’ which was a state name.
43. Jin
This word is a China originated word which means ‘gold’.
44. Joh
Joh is an uncommon last name derived from an ancient city in Shanxi province.
45. Ju
Ju is a Korean surname which refers to ‘circumference’.
46. Jue
Jue refers to ‘vermilion red’ or ‘cinnabar’.
47. Jun
Jun is a famous surname derived from the Chinese Character, and means ‘talented’ or ‘handsome’.
48. Jung
Jung surname is derived from the name of an ancient state called ‘Zheng’.
49. Kang
Kang surname refers to ‘ginger’.
50. Kee
Kee is a variant of the Korean last name ‘Ki’. The Ki clan is an ancient clan in Korea.
51. Keng
Keng surname is derived from the word ‘Jiang’, and it means ‘ginger’.
52. Ki
Ki is a short surname derived from China, and it means ‘tree’ or ‘wood’.
53. Kil
Kil surname is derived from a Chinese word that refers to ‘cool’.
54. Kim
Kim is one of the popular surnames in Korea, and it means ‘gold’.
55. Ko
Ko was the family name of Ko dynasty descendants.
56. Kong
This is a Chinese originated word which means ’empty’, ‘hollow’ or ‘sky’.
57. Ku
Ku is a simple surname which means ‘tool’ or ‘utensil’.
58. Kuk
It comes from a Chinese originated word which means ‘Country’.
59. Kwack
Kwack word refers to the ‘outer part of a city or country’.
60. Kwan
Kwan is a Korean variant of word ‘Guan’, and it means ‘border pass’.
61. Kwock
Kwock is another variant of surname Kwack, and refers to ‘a surrounding area’.
62. Kwon
Kwon is a unique surname which is used in Korea. It refers to ‘power’ or ‘authority’.
63. Lee
It comes from a Sino Korean word commonly used by Korean’s. It means ‘plum’.
64. Lim
Lim is a Korean last name, a variant of ‘Im’. The surname means ‘dependable’.
65. Lin
Lin is a popular Korean last name from China, and it refers to “forest.”
66. Ma
This surname has a Chinese origin, and it means ‘horse’.
67. Min
Min is a famous last name in Korea, and it means ‘smart’ or ‘clever’.
68. Mok
Mok is derived from China, and this surname means ‘screen’ or ‘curtain’.
69. Mong
Mong is another unique Korean surname which means ‘suffer’ or ‘ignorance’.
70. Moon
This is a Chinese derived word which refers to ‘culture’ or ‘literature’.
71. Mun
Mun surname is the other variant of the name Moon. It also means ‘culture’.
72. Myung
Myung refers to ‘brilliant’.
73. Na
Na refers to the state of Zhou dynasty.
74. Nahm
Nahm is another famous Korean surname that refers to ‘south’.
75. Nam
Nam is a Korean last name meaning ‘South’.
76. No
No is a short surname derived from Chinese word which means ‘field’ or ‘wilderness’.
77. Oh
Oh is used in Korea as a family name as it refers to the ancient state of Wu located in Jiangsu province.
78. Ok
Ok is the spelling variant of words ‘Oak’ or ‘Ock’ that means ‘Oaktree’.
79. Om
The family name Om from Korea is not very common. The meaning of it is unexplained.
80. Pae
Pae surname refers to ‘a pear’.
81. Paek
Paek is a variant of Baik or Paik, and it refers to white colour.
82. Pai
Pai is another variant of ‘Bai’ or ‘Pei’, and it means ‘pear fruit’.
83. Pak
Pak word is a Sino-Korean word, which means ‘plain’ or ‘unadorned’.
84. Pan
Pan means ‘water in which the rice was rinsed’.
85. Park
Park is another variant of the word ‘Bak’ which means ‘Simple’.
86. Pu
Pu is also a variant of the word ‘Bak’ means ‘Simple’.
87. Quon
Quon is a spelling variant of word ‘Kwon’ which means ‘power’ or ‘authority’.
88. Ra
Ra has been derived from the Chinese word means ‘good’ or ‘virtuous’.
89. Reeh
Reeh refers to ‘plum tree’.
90. Rim
Rim refers to ‘forest’.
91. Roh
This name comes from a Chinese word which means ‘a musical note’.
92. Ryu
Ryu is the Korean word that originated from the Chinese word ‘Yu’, and it means a ‘willow tree’.
93. Sa
Sa surname originated from a family of emperors belonging to Kyongsang South Province’s Kochang County in AD 918-1392.
94. Seo
Seo surname is a Sino-Korean word, and it means ‘calm’ or ‘poised’.
95. Shin
This surname comes from the five Shin Clans who belonged to the Chinese and Korean Peninsular regions.
96. Sim
Sim means ‘sink’.
97. Sin
This last name came into existence from the ancient state in the Xia dynasty.
98. So
So was the family name of traditional emperors of Cholla South province.
99. Son
This name has a Chinese origin, and it means ‘mountain’.
100. Song
Song came into existence from the Song dynasty.
101. Suh
Suh is derived from the variant ‘So’ which was the family name of traditional emperors of Cholla South province.
102. Suk
Suk means ‘ancient’ or ‘stone’.
103. Sun
Sun refers to ‘grandchild’ or ‘descendant’.
104. Sung
Sung is a variant of the name ‘Song’ which cames from the Song dynasty.
105. Tak
Tak surname is the traditional last name of a Scholar from the Koryo Kingdom.
106. Tan
Tan means ‘an exhibit’ or ‘display’.
107. Tang
Tang surname derived from the ruler of the Tang Dynasty.
108. To
To is a Chinese word which means ‘dipper’ or ‘unit of measure’.
109. Toh
Toh is a Chinese word which means ‘stop’ or ‘prevent’.
110. Wang
Wang means ‘king’ or ‘monarch’.
111. Whang
Whang is a variant of word ‘Hwang’. It means ‘yellow’.
112. Woo
Woo is a spelling variant of ‘Wu’, an ancient state located in Jiangsu Province.
113. Yang
Yang means ‘bridge’ or ‘to bridge’.
114. Ye
Ye is a Korean family name with a Chinese origin. It means ‘leaf’.
115. Yee
Yee refers to ‘a plum tree’, and it is a variant of the name ‘Lee’ or ‘Li’.
116. Yeon
Yeon a variant of word ‘Juan’, and it means ‘beautiful’ or ‘graceful’.
117. Yoon
Yoon refers to the ‘eldest’.
118. You
This is a Chinese-originated word, which means ‘reason’ or ‘cause’.
119. Yu
This surname comes from a Chinese word that means ‘in’ or ‘at’.
120. Yun
This last name comes from a Sino-Korean word which means ‘to govern’ or ‘to oversee’.
Some of the names have an influence of Japanese and Chinese names as well. Apart from these, many surnames are either variations or are related to other surnames. We hope you were able to get a great deal of knowledge from this list of royal Korean last names.
