Our answer
The ‘yellow’ surname, No. 7 in China 黄
Traditional form 黃; about 32.6 million people in mainland China in 2013
The short answer
Huang (黄, traditional 黃, Huáng) is a Chinese surname meaning ‘yellow’, traditionally linked to the ancient state of Huang. It is the seventh most common surname in China (Ministry of Public Security, 2019), about 32.6 million people in 2013. In Cantonese it is spelled Wong; in Hokkien and Teochew, Ng, Ooi, Oei or Uy.
| In Chinese | 黄 (simplified) / 黃 (traditional) |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Huáng (second, rising tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | No. 7 of the 100 most common surnames |
| Other spellings | Wong (Cantonese, Hakka), Ng, Ooi, Oei, Wee, Uy (Hokkien, Teochew), Hwang (Korean), Huỳnh or Hoàng (Vietnamese) |
| Meaning of the character | ‘Yellow’; also the name of the ancient state of Huang |
| Largest in | Guangxi, where it is the No. 1 surname (2019) |
| Population | About 32.6 million in mainland China, 2.45% of the population (2013) |
Origins of the Huang surname
黃 is the everyday word for yellow, but the surname is usually explained through a place: the small state of Huang, which existed in the Spring and Autumn period until it was conquered by a larger neighbour, after which its people kept the name.
Tradition gives the Huang several possible ancestors. One story traces them to Bo Yi, from whom the ancient Ying clan descended; another to Lu Zhong, whose descendant Huang Yun is said to have been granted the surname by the sage-king Yao for his work in controlling floods. The Huang Yi, one of the eastern peoples of early China, are also said to have adopted the name.
Later the family moved south. Huang clansmen settled in Fujian during the Jin dynasty and spread into Guangdong and other southern provinces under the Tang, which is why the name is so common in the south, and among overseas Chinese, today. Our guide to Chinese surnames has the wider picture.[2]
How Huang is spelled around the world
Few surnames change shape as much as Huang, because it sounds so different in Cantonese, Hokkien and Teochew, the languages of most early emigrants.[1][2]
| Spelling | Where | Language or dialect |
|---|---|---|
| Huang | Mainland China, Taiwan | Mandarin (pinyin and Wade–Giles) |
| Wong | Hong Kong, Macau, Cantonese and Hakka communities | Cantonese, Hakka |
| Vong | Macau; Hakka and Taishanese communities | Cantonese (Macau), Hakka, Taishanese |
| Ng | Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines | Hokkien, Teochew |
| Ooi | Penang, Malaysia | Hokkien |
| Oei, Oey | Indonesia, Australia | Hokkien |
| Wee, Uy, Ung, Ong | Southeast Asia; Uy especially in the Philippines | Hokkien, Teochew |
| Hwang | Korea | Korean (황) |
| Huỳnh, Hoàng | Vietnam | Vietnamese |
Where Huang is most common
Huang is a southern surname. In the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 report it was the largest surname in Guangxi, where it is also among the common surnames of the Zhuang people. Guangdong has the largest number of Huangs, about 19% of the national total.
A 2013 study by the Fuxi Institution put Huang at 2.45% of China’s population, about 32.6 million people; counting Taiwan, the total passed 35 million in 2020.
The name is common across the region too. Among Chinese Filipinos, Uy (黃) was one of the most common surnames in 2020, with 47,832 people; South Korea counted 697,171 people named Hwang in 2015; and Huỳnh and Hoàng together cover around 5% of Vietnamese people.[1][2][3]
Famous people named Huang or Wong
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Huang Tingjian | 黄庭坚 | Song dynasty poet and calligrapher |
| Huang Daopo | 黄道婆 | Yuan dynasty weaver and innovator |
| Huang Gongwang | 黄公望 | Yuan dynasty painter |
| Huang Zongxi | 黄宗羲 | Ming–Qing philosopher and historian |
| Wong Fei-hung | 黄飞鸿 | Martial artist and folk hero |
| Anna May Wong | 黄柳霜 | The first Chinese American film star |
| Huang Kun | 黄昆 | Solid-state physicist |
| David Henry Hwang | 黄哲伦 | Playwright |
| Wong Peng Soon | 黄秉璇 | Malaysian badminton player |
| Jensen Huang | 黄仁勋 | Co-founder and chief executive of Nvidia |
Questions readers ask
What does the Huang surname mean?
黃 means ‘yellow’. The surname is traditionally linked to the ancient state of Huang, whose people kept its name after it was conquered.
Is Huang a Chinese last name?
Yes. It is the seventh most common surname in mainland China (Ministry of Public Security, 2019) and the top surname in Guangxi.
How common is Huang in China?
A 2013 study put it at about 32.6 million people, 2.45% of the population. Guangdong has about 19% of all Huangs.
How do you pronounce Huang?
Huáng is one syllable with a rising tone, roughly ‘hwahng’.
Is Wong the same as Huang?
Often. Wong is the Cantonese spelling of 黄, but it is also the Cantonese spelling of 王 (Wang). Only the Chinese characters tell you which.
Is Ng a Chinese surname?
Yes, but it stands for different characters. In Hokkien and Teochew, common in Singapore and Malaysia, Ng is 黄 (Huang). In Cantonese, Ng is 吴 or 伍 (Wu).
What surname is Ooi or Uy?
Both are usually 黄 (Huang). Ooi is the spelling used in Penang, Malaysia, and Uy is common among Chinese Filipinos.
Is Hwang the same as Huang?
Yes, in writing. Hwang (황) is the Korean reading of the same character, 黃, and Huỳnh and Hoàng are Vietnamese readings of it.
Sources
- Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Huang (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- The Paper (澎湃新闻), Ministry of Public Security 2019 surname report · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Wong (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Ng (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Ong (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction