Our answer
China’s 20th most common surname 罗
Named after the ancient state of Luo in today’s Hubei; spelled Lo or Law in Cantonese
The short answer
Luo (罗, traditional 羅, Luó) is a Chinese surname, ranked 20th in China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. It comes from the ancient state of Luo, in what is now Hubei province. In Cantonese it is spelled Lo or Law, and in Southeast Asia often Loh or Low.
| In Chinese | 罗 (simplified) / 羅 (traditional) |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Luó (second, rising tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | 20th, Ministry of Public Security list |
| Other spellings | Lo / Law / Loh / Lowe / Lor (Cantonese), Lo / Lor / Law (Min Nan), Low (Teochew), Law / Lo / Loh (Hakka), La (Vietnamese), Na / Ra (Korean) |
| Meaning of the character | The name of the ancient state of Luo, in present-day Hubei |
| Most numerous in | Sichuan province (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
| Population | About 12.6 million, 0.95% of mainland China (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
Origins of the Luo surname
Luo is one of the many Chinese surnames that began as the name of a state. The state of Luo was a small feudal territory in what is now Hubei province, recorded from the Shang dynasty into the Warring States period. When it disappeared, its people and their descendants kept its name as their surname.
Luo comes 75th in the Hundred Family Surnames (百家姓), the classic list of Chinese family names.[2][3]
How Luo is spelled around the world
The character is 罗 in mainland China and 羅 in Hong Kong, Taiwan and many overseas communities; the spelling depends on the dialect.[1][2]
| Spelling | Where | Language / system |
|---|---|---|
| Luo | Mainland China | Mandarin, pinyin |
| Lo | Hong Kong, Taiwan; older books on China | Cantonese; Mandarin, Wade–Giles |
| Law, Loh, Lowe, Lor | Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Cantonese families abroad | Cantonese |
| Low | Singapore, Malaysia | Teochew |
| Lo, Lor, Law | Taiwan, Southeast Asia | Min Nan (Hokkien) |
| Law, Lo, Loh | Hakka-speaking families | Hakka |
| La | Vietnam | Vietnamese |
| Na (나) / Ra (라) | South Korea / North Korea | Korean |
Where the Luo surname is most common
Luo was the 20th most common surname in mainland China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 ranking. The Fuxi Institution’s 2013 figures counted about 12.6 million people named Luo, 0.95% of the population, with the largest number in Sichuan.
In Taiwan it is less common, ranking 29th in a 2016 survey.[1][2]
Famous people named Luo or Lo
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Luo Guanzhong (c. 1330 – c. 1400) | 罗贯中 | Author of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, one of the Four Great Classical Novels |
| Lo Wei (1918–1996) | 罗维 | Hong Kong film director whose films launched the careers of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan |
| Lo Ta-yu | 罗大佑 | Taiwanese singer-songwriter, a defining figure of 1980s Mandopop |
| Andrew Lo | 罗闻全 | Hong Kong-born finance professor at MIT and founder of AlphaSimplex Group |
| Luo Yunxi | 罗云熙 | Actor, known for the TV dramas Ashes of Love and Till the End of the Moon |
Questions readers ask
What does the surname Luo mean?
Luo (罗) takes its name from the ancient state of Luo, a small territory in what is now Hubei province. Its people later used the state’s name as their family name.
Is Luo a Chinese last name?
Yes. Luo (罗, traditional 羅) is a common Chinese surname, ranked 20th in mainland China in 2019. The same character is used in Vietnam (La) and Korea (Na or Ra).
How common is the Luo surname in China?
It ranked 20th in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. The Fuxi Institution counted about 12.6 million people named Luo in 2013, 0.95% of the population, with the most in Sichuan.
How do you pronounce Luo?
Roughly ‘lwaw’, one syllable with a rising tone (Luó): start with l, glide through a short u and end on an open ‘aw’. It is not ‘loo-oh’.
Is Lo the same as Luo?
Usually. Lo is the Cantonese and older Wade–Giles spelling of 罗 (羅). But Lo can also be the Cantonese spelling of 卢 (Lu), or of the rarer surname 骆 (Luò), so the character is the only sure guide.
Is Law a Chinese surname?
Yes. Law is a common Cantonese and Hakka spelling of 罗 (Luo), found in Hong Kong and among Cantonese families abroad.
Is Loh a Chinese surname?
Yes. Loh is used in Singapore and Malaysia for 罗 (Luo), but also for 骆, as with the badminton player Loh Kean Yew.
Sources
- Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames (2019 Ministry of Public Security ranking; 2013 Fuxi Institution figures; Taiwan 2016 survey; romanisations) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Luo (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Behind the Name, Luo (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia (Chinese), 罗贯中 · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Lo Wei · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Lo Ta-yu · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Andrew Lo · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Luo Yunxi · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Loh Kean Yew · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction