Our answer
China’s 13th most common surname 马
The character means ‘horse’; the largest surname in Qinghai and Ningxia
The short answer
Ma (马, traditional 馬, Mǎ) is a Chinese surname meaning ‘horse’, ranked 13th in China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. Tradition traces it to descendants of Zhao She, a general of the state of Zhao. It is the largest surname in Qinghai and Ningxia, and is also spelled Mah, Mar or Beh.
| In Chinese | 马 (simplified) / 馬 (traditional) |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Mǎ (third, dipping tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | 13th, Ministry of Public Security list |
| Other spellings | Mah, Mar (Cantonese and overseas), Beh / Bey / Baey (Hokkien), Mo (Shanghainese), Ma (Korean) |
| Meaning of the character | ‘Horse’ |
| Largest surname in | Qinghai and Ningxia (Ministry of Public Security, 2019) |
| Population | About 17.2 million, 1.29% of mainland China (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
Origins of the Ma surname
The character 马 literally means horse, but tradition traces the surname to a place name rather than to the animal. Zhao She (赵奢) was a general of the state of Zhao in the Warring States period, and after he defeated a Qin army relieving the city of Yuyu in 271 BC, King Huiwen of Zhao made him administrator of a district called Mafu (马服), in what is now northern Handan, Hebei.
According to that account, Zhao She’s descendants took Ma, the first character of Mafu, as their surname. Ma is the 52nd name in the classic Hundred Family Surnames primer.[2][3]
How Ma is spelled around the world
Ma is short and simple in most dialects, but a few other spellings are common among overseas Chinese families.[1][2]
| Spelling | Where | Language or system |
|---|---|---|
| Ma | Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong | Mandarin (Pinyin and Wade–Giles) and Cantonese |
| Mah, Mar | Cantonese-speaking families, especially overseas | Cantonese |
| Beh, Bey, Baey | Hokkien-speaking families | Min Nan |
| Mo, Mu | Shanghai area | Shanghainese (Wu Chinese) |
| Ma | Korea | Korean |
Where Ma is most common
Ma ranked 13th in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list of China’s 100 most common surnames. The same report found that Ma is the largest surname in Qinghai and Ningxia, in the north-west. Only Wang, Li, Chen, Zhang, Liu, Yang and Huang head any other province, so Ma is the only surname outside the national top ten to do so.
In the 2013 frequency list compiled by the Fuxi Institution, Ma was 13th, with about 17.2 million people, or 1.29% of the mainland population. By sheer numbers, Henan was the province with the most people named Ma.[1][2][4]
Famous people named Ma
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Ma Yuan | 马援 | Eastern Han dynasty general (14 BC–AD 49) |
| Ma Chao | 马超 | General of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms era (176–222) |
| Ma Yuan | 马远 | Song dynasty painter (c. 1160–1225) |
| Ma Sicong | 马思聪 | Violinist and composer (1912–1987) |
| Ma Sanli | 马三立 | Comedian (1914–2003) |
| Yo-Yo Ma | 马友友 | Cellist |
| Ma Huateng | 马化腾 | Founder of Tencent |
| Jack Ma | 马云 | Internet entrepreneur, Alibaba Group |
| Ma Long | 马龙 | Table tennis player |
Questions readers ask
What does the Ma surname mean?
The character 马 literally means ‘horse’. Tradition says the surname itself comes from Mafu, a district granted to the Warring States general Zhao She, whose descendants took its first character as their family name.
Is Ma a Chinese last name?
Yes. Ma (马) is a Chinese surname and comes first in a Chinese name, as in Ma Long. It was the 13th most common surname in China in 2019.
How common is Ma in China?
It was 13th in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 ranking, and 2013 figures from the Fuxi Institution put it at about 17.2 million people, or 1.29% of the mainland population.
How do you pronounce Ma?
In Mandarin it is Mǎ, like ‘mah’, said on the third tone, which dips low and rises again. In Cantonese it is also Ma.
Where is Ma the most common surname?
In Qinghai and Ningxia, in north-west China, where it is the largest surname according to the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 report. The province with the largest number of people named Ma is Henan.
Is Mah the same as Ma?
Yes. Mah and Mar are spellings of 马 used by Cantonese-speaking families, especially overseas, and Beh is the Hokkien spelling.
Is Yo-Yo Ma’s surname Chinese?
Yes. The cellist’s Chinese name is 马友友, and Ma (马) is his surname.
Sources
- Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames (2019 Ministry of Public Security ranking; 2013 Fuxi Institution figures; romanisations) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Ma (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Zhao She · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- The Paper (澎湃新闻), 2019 national surname report from the Ministry of Public Security · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction