Our answer
China’s 22nd most common surname 梁
From the ancient state of Liang; spelled Leung in Hong Kong and Leong in Macau, Malaysia and Singapore
The short answer
Liang (梁, Liáng) is a Chinese surname, ranked 22nd in China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. The character means a beam or bridge, and the surname comes from the ancient state of Liang in today’s Shaanxi. It is spelled Leung in Hong Kong, Leong in Macau and Malaysia, and Neo in Hokkien.
| In Chinese | 梁 (the same in simplified and traditional characters) |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Liáng (second, rising tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | 22nd, Ministry of Public Security list; 7th in Hong Kong |
| Other spellings | Leung (Hong Kong), Leong (Macau, Malaysia, Singapore), Neo (Hokkien, Teochew), Liong / Nio (Indonesia), Lương (Vietnamese), Yang / Ryang (Korean) |
| Meaning of the character | Beam, bridge, ridge; also the name of the ancient state of Liang |
| Most numerous in | Guangdong province (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
| Population | About 11.3 million, 0.85% of mainland China (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
Origins of the Liang surname
The character 梁 means a beam, a bridge or a ridge, but the surname is usually traced to a place: the small state of Liang, which existed in the 8th and 7th centuries BC in what is now Shaanxi province.
According to the traditional account, during the reign of King Ping of Zhou, Kang, a younger son of the Qin ruler Qin Zhong, was given the fief of Liang near Mount Liang, south of today’s Hancheng in Shaanxi, and was known as the Earl of Liang (梁伯). The state was later conquered by its powerful neighbour Qin, and its people kept the name Liang as their surname. The Liang line is therefore traced to the ancient Ying (嬴) clan.
Liang comes 128th in the Hundred Family Surnames (百家姓), the classic list of Chinese family names.[2][3][4]
How Liang is spelled around the world
Liang is especially common among Cantonese speakers, so the Cantonese-based spellings Leung and Leong are the ones most often seen abroad. The character is always 梁.[1][2]
| Spelling | Where | Language / system |
|---|---|---|
| Liang | Mainland China, Taiwan | Mandarin, pinyin and Wade–Giles |
| Leung | Hong Kong, Cantonese families abroad | Cantonese |
| Leong | Macau, Malaysia, Singapore; also Hong Kong | Cantonese, Hakka |
| Neo | Singapore, Malaysia | Hokkien, Teochew (Min Nan) |
| Liong, Nio | Indonesia | Hokkien and Fuzhou-based spellings |
| Leong, Liong, Niu, Diang | Philippines | Filipino spellings |
| Lương | Vietnam | Vietnamese |
| Leang | Cambodia | Khmer spelling |
| Yang / Ryang (양 / 량) | South Korea / North Korea | Korean |
Where the Liang surname is most common
Liang was the 22nd most common surname in mainland China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 ranking. The Fuxi Institution’s 2013 figures counted about 11.3 million people named Liang, 0.85% of the population, with the largest number in Guangdong.
Its national rank undersells it in the south. Liang is one of the major surnames of Guangdong and Guangxi, and of Hong Kong and Macau, and it is particularly common among Cantonese (Guangfu) people. In Hong Kong it is the 7th most common surname. It is also found in Shanxi, Sichuan, Henan, Guizhou and Hebei, and overseas in Malaysia.[1][2][3]
Famous people named Liang or Leung
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Liang Shanbo (legend) | 梁山伯 | Hero of the Butterfly Lovers, one of China’s best-loved folk legends |
| Liang Shiqiu (1903–1987) | 梁实秋 | Writer and translator, the first scholar to translate the complete works of Shakespeare into Chinese single-handed; also compiled English–Chinese dictionaries |
| Tony Leung Chiu-wai | 梁朝伟 | Hong Kong actor and singer; Best Actor at Cannes in 2000 for In the Mood for Love |
| Fish Leong | 梁静茹 | Malaysian Mandopop singer with more than 20 million records sold |
| Jack Neo | 梁智强 | Singaporean film director |
| Liang Wenfeng | 梁文锋 | Entrepreneur, founder of the AI company DeepSeek |
Questions readers ask
What does the surname Liang mean?
The character 梁 means a beam, bridge or ridge. As a surname it comes from the ancient state of Liang, in what is now Shaanxi province, whose people took its name.
Is Liang a Chinese last name?
Yes. Liang (梁) is a common Chinese surname, 22nd in mainland China in 2019 and 7th in Hong Kong. The same character is used in Vietnam (Lương) and Korea (Yang).
How common is the Liang surname in China?
It ranked 22nd in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. In 2013 the Fuxi Institution counted about 11.3 million people named Liang, 0.85% of the population, with the most in Guangdong.
How do you pronounce Liang?
Roughly ‘lee-ahng’, run together into one syllable, with a rising tone (Liáng).
Is Leung the same as Liang?
Yes. Leung is the Cantonese spelling of 梁 used in Hong Kong, as with the actor Tony Leung (梁朝伟).
Is Leong the same as Liang?
Yes. Leong is the spelling of 梁 most used in Macau, Malaysia and Singapore, as with the singer Fish Leong (梁静茹).
Is Neo a Chinese surname?
Yes. In Singapore and Malaysia, Neo is the Hokkien and Teochew spelling of 梁 (Liang), as with the film director Jack Neo (梁智强).
Sources
- Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames (2019 Ministry of Public Security ranking; 2013 Fuxi Institution figures; romanisations) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Liang (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia (Chinese), 梁姓 · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Behind the Name, Liang (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Butterfly Lovers · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Liang Shiqiu · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Tony Leung Chiu-wai · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Fish Leong · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Liang Wenfeng · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction