45+ Common & Rare Taiwanese Last Names & Their Meanings

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Discover popular surnames used by Taiwanese families

Co-authored by Jennifer Vasquez, BA, MA

Last Updated: August 26, 2026 Fact Checked

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Most Common Surnames

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Rare Surnames

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Two-Syllable Surnames

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Famous Surnames

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Learn More Last Names

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Most Taiwanese last names are Han Chinese names, a result of the Han dynasty of China's presence in Taiwan centuries ago. According to Taiwanese naming customs, the surname comes first and is followed by a person’s given or first name. While there is a group of more common Taiwanese last names, there are also rare ones that have survived. Here, we’ve rounded up a range of Taiwanese last names along with what they mean. Read on to learn more!

Overview of Taiwanese Surnames

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An illustrated list of different Taiwanese last names.

Taiwanese last names are largely single-syllable Han Chinese surnames and make up over half of Taiwanese family names. Some of the most common include Chen (陳), Lin (林), Huang (黃), and Chang (常). Two-syllable surnames are rare and include Zhangjian (張簡), Ouyang (歐陽), and Fanjiang (范姜).

Section 1 of 5:

Most Common Taiwanese Last Names

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The most prevalent Taiwanese surnames are single-character Han Chinese names. The meanings behind these last names vary and often relate to nature, character traits, and aesthetic qualities. Many families in Taiwan likely have one of the last names included on this list:
- Chen (陳): “To explain” or “old”; also the name of an ancient state
- Lin (林): “Forest” or “woods”
- Huang (黃): “Yellow”
- Chang (常): “Lasting forever”
- Li (李): “Plum”
- Wang (王): “King” or “royal”
- Wu (吳): “Big” or “large”
- Liu (劉): “Type of axes used as a weapon” or “kill”
- Tsai (蔡): Variation of the surname “Cai” (蔡), which refers to a tortoise used in ancient divination rituals
- Yang (楊): “Poplar”
- Liao (廖): “Spacious” or “empty”
- Lai (賴): “Depend on”
- Su (蘇): “Revive”; also the Chinese name for a mint herb called “perilla”
- Pan (潘): “Rice water”
- Peng (彭): “Next to” or “beside”
- Hu (胡): Refers to ethnic minorities in ancient northern and western China
- Yu (余): “I”
- Liang (梁): “Bridge” or “roof beam”
- Kuang (鄺): Name of an ancient state
- Shih (施): Variation of the Chinese surname “Shi” (石), which means “stone”
- Shao (邵): Habitational name from a placename
- Tai (邰): From the placename “Tai”; also the name of a fief granted to the official Hou Ji
- Xu (徐): “Gradually” or “slowly”

Section 2 of 5:

Rare Taiwanese Last Names

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Ju, Hsia, and Chi are some of the most unique Taiwanese last names. Not many families in Taiwan carry these surnames, so you won’t see them as often. Take a look at the following selection:
- Ju (鞠): “Ball made of leather” or “enormous”
- Hsia (夏): Variation of the Chinese surname “Xia” (夏), which means “summer”
- Chi (池): “Moat”
- Ying (應): “Respond” or “should”
- Lun (倫): “Peers”
- Yi (李): “Plum”
- Tong (童): Alternative Cantonese Romanization, meaning “children”
- Hsin (辛): Variation of the Chinese surname “Xin” (辛), which means “hot and spicy” or “suffering”
- Chun (春): “Spring season”
- Hong (洪): “Vast”

Section 3 of 5:

Two-Syllable Taiwanese Last Names

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Under 1% of the Taiwanese population has a two-syllable last name. These surnames represent a uniting of two family lineages. Here are the most well-known examples:
- Fanjiang (范姜): “Model” or “pattern” and “river”; combines the Fan and Jiang family names
- Jiangxie (江謝): “River” and “to thank”; combines Jiang and Xie family names
- Ouyang (歐陽): “The south of the Ou-Yu hill”
- Zhangjian (張簡): Surname combining the Zhang and Sim/Jian family lineages
- Zhouhuang (周黃): “Complete” and “yellow”

Section 4 of 5:

Famous Taiwanese Last Names

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Many Taiwanese celebs have last names that are widely recognized. From actors to pop stars, a wide range of Taiwanese individuals are making their mark in entertainment. See if you recognize any of these stars:
- Ang Lee: Respected director of films like Life of Pi, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Hulk.
- Jay Chou: Top-selling musician who’s referred to as the “King of Mandopop”.
- Jolin Tsai: Pop star who’s been dubbed the “Queen of C-pop” (Chinese pop music).
- Shu Q: Actress who’s starred in more than 80 films.
- A-Mei: Taiwanese Indigenous musician and performer who’s been called “the Madonna of Taiwan.”
- Constance Wu: Actress known for films like Crazy Rich Asians and Hustlers.
- Jeremy Lin: Famous American NBA star who was born to Taiwanese parents.
- André Chiang: Well-respected chef in Taiwan who founded his flagship restaurant Restaurant André in Singapore.
- Jason Wu: Famous fashion designer who’s designed dresses for important figures, like Michelle Obama.
- Hsieh Su-wei: Top-performing tennis player who comes from a family of tennis players.

Section 5 of 5:

Learn More Last Names

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If you want to dive deeper into the fascinating world of last names, we can help! We have a variety of lists that explore surnames from different countries and share their meanings. Here are some that may interest you:

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