Surname Yong - Meaning and Origin

Yong: What does the surname Yong mean?

The last name Yong is a Chinese surname. According to records, the origin of the surname dates back to the ancient Chinese Zhou dynasty, where records of the surname can be traced to a Chinese military general of the same name.

In Chinese, the surname Yong is derived from the word "yong" which means brave, or brave as a leader. The surname is popular in the southern part of mainland China, with the most concentration of its bearers in Guangdong.

The surname may be pronounced as “Yung” in some dialects, with the characters translated to English or other languages as "hero" or "dragon". Yong families may also often be associated with the animal symbol the deer. This symbol is associated with the positive characteristics of being gentle, disciplined, elegant, and sure-footed.

The Yong surname is also recognizable in various other forms, such as Huang, Ren, Wang, Zou, Zhong, and Zheng. The Yong family name is also very popular in the United States and Canada, with many Chinese-American immigrants tracing their lineage to it.

Overall, the Yong last name is one with a long and proud history in Chinese culture. Its bearers are associated with the virtues of bravery, strength, and determination, which remain alive and respected around the world today.

Yong: Where does the name Yong come from?

The last name Yong is most commonly found in East and Southeast Asia today. It is a very common Chinese surname found in mainland China, as well as in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and several countries with Chinese diasporas, including Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It is also present in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

In China alone, Yong is the 40th most common surname, estimated to be held by around 3 million people. It is believed to have a variety of different roots, although the majority of bearers likely belong to the same ancestral clan. Based on historical documents, it is believed that the surname was originally given to rulers of the ancient Chinese state of Yong, which was founded in the 12th century BCE.

In South Korea, Yong has also been used as a given name, and is also a common surname in the Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces. In Vietnam, Yong is often spelled as Dương. The Japanese version is spelled as Yuu, and is a common surname in Japan.

In the United States, Yong is not a common name. Data from the US Census Bureau reveals that as of 2018, there were only 4,715 people with the last name living in the country. It is also rarely found in Europe, with the United Kingdom being the only European country to have high concentrations of bearers of the surname. The UK is home to an ethnic Chinese population that is largely originally from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

Variations of the surname Yong

The surname Yong is a variant of the Chinese surname 中 (zhong) which can be transliterated as ‘Yong’. Other variants and spellings of this surname include Chung, Jung, Zhong, Chong, and Chung.

In some instances, the surname Yong can sound the same as some other Chinese surnames. It is commonly confused with the surname 楊 (Yang) which has a similar spelling. Other names that may sound similar or even be interchangeable include Young, Yung, Yean, Yuhn, Yin, Yoon, and Yawn.

The surname Yong is also quite popular among Koreans. It is an uncommon name in Korea, but there are still some people with the surname. Most people of Korean descent who bear this surname, spell their name as 容 (Yeong). Another variant of this is Yeung, and it is the same as the Cantonese and local Hong Kong variant of the surname Yong.

One more variant of the surname Yong is Yeong, which is mainly found in Malaysia. This spelling is most likely derived from the Hokkien transliteration of the name 中 (zhong). Other Malaysian renderings of 中 (zhong) include Yong and Yang.

Altogether, there are 11 variants of the surname Yong that one may encounter in different cultures around the world. These include the original Chinese 中 (zhong) variant as well as Chung, Jung, Zhong, Chong, Chung, Young, Yung, Yean, Yuhn, Yin, Yoon, Yawn, Yeong, and Yeung.

Famous people with the name Yong

• Yong-Jun Soo: a 47-year-old South Korean actor, known for his roles in the thriller movies "Operation Chromite" and "The Unjust".
• Yong Soo Jung: an actress known for her roles in the South Korean soaps "Return of Bokdanji" and "Misaeng".
• Yong Lee: a 44-year-old South Korean singer and actor, known for an extensive discography and for appearing in the movie "Apartment" as well as in musicals.
• Yong Woon Lim: a South Korean comedian known for his frequent appearances on Korean variety shows such as "Infinite Challenge" and "2 Days & 1 Night".
• Yong Woo Park: an actress known for her performances in films like "My Girlfriend Is an Agent" and "I Saw the Devil".
• Yong Sun Park: a professional musical theatre actor, who is known for appearing in the musicals "Kiss Me, Kate" and "The Threepenny Opera".
• Yong Ha Choi: a South Korean actor, most famous for his performance in the drama "The King and I" and the movie "Public Enemy Returns".
• Yong Kyu Lee: a South Korean comedian and actor who has appeared in several movies, such as "Hwayi: A Monster Boy" and "Barbie".
• Yong Seok Kim: an animator and television director known for his work on the series "Monsters vs Aliens" and Disney's "The Incredibles".
• Yong Bae Kim: a 63-year-old South Korean classical conductor, known for conducting the orchestras of the Bayreuth Festival, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic.

Other surnames

YonceYonerYongeYonkerYonkin