Our answer
China’s 34th most common surname 田
The character means ‘field’ or ‘farm’ and is written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese
The short answer
Tian (田, Tián) is a Chinese surname meaning ‘field’, ranked 34th in China’s 2019 Ministry of Public Security list. Tradition traces it to Chen Wan, a prince of the state of Chen who fled to Qi, where his descendants later ruled. It is spelled Tien in Taiwan, Tin in Hong Kong and Jeon in Korea.
| In Chinese | 田, written the same in simplified and traditional characters |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Tián (second tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | No. 34 (Ministry of Public Security) |
| Other spellings | Tien or T’ien (Taiwan and older Western books), Tin (Hong Kong, Cantonese), Jeon (Korea) |
| Meaning of the character | Field, farm |
| Largest in | Henan (2013) |
| Population | About 6.85 million, 0.52% of China’s population (Fuxi Institution, 2013) |
Origins of the Tian surname
The best-known account begins with Chen Wan (陈完), a prince of the small state of Chen, who fled to the powerful state of Qi to escape persecution. Duke Huan of Qi gave him a post as an overseer of craftsmen, and he took the name Tian; in Old Chinese, 田 and 陈 sounded close. He is remembered as Tian Wan (田完).
His descendants grew powerful in Qi. One of them, Tian He (田和), sent the last duke of the old ruling house away to live by the sea and made himself ruler, an event known in Chinese history as 田氏代齐, ‘the Tian take over Qi’. The Tian family then ruled Qi for many generations.
Other accounts suggest older roots: the name may come from a fief called Tian, or from an official post in charge of farmland under the Shang dynasty. In the Hundred Family Surnames (百家姓) the name comes 156th. For how surnames and given names fit together, see our guide to Chinese names.[1][2]
How Tian is spelled around the world
The character is the same everywhere; the spelling follows the local language or romanisation system.[1]
| Spelling | Where | Language or system |
|---|---|---|
| Tian | Mainland China | Mandarin, pinyin |
| Tien, T’ien | Taiwan; older Western books | Mandarin, Wade–Giles |
| Tin | Hong Kong | Cantonese |
| Thinn | Hokkien-speaking families | Hokkien |
| Jeon | Korea | Korean reading of the same character |
Where the Tian surname is most common
Tian was the 34th most common surname in mainland China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list, and it stayed in the 26th–50th band in the ministry’s 2020 report. The 100 most common surnames in the 2019 list together cover 85.9% of China’s registered population.
Fuxi Institution figures for 2013 put the number of people called Tian at about 6.85 million, or 0.52% of the population, with Henan the province with the most.
The name is much rarer in Taiwan, where it fell in the 76th–100th band in 2018. In South Korea, where the same character is read Jeon, it was in the 26th–50th band in 2015.[2][3][4]
Famous people named Tian
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Tian Ji | 田忌 | General of the state of Qi (fl. c. 300 BC) |
| Tian Dan | 田单 | General of the Warring States period (fl. c. 300 BC) |
| Tian Zhuangzhuang | 田壮壮 | Film director and producer (born 1952) |
| Tian Liang | 田亮 | Diver, two-time Olympic champion (born 1979) |
| Gang Tian | 田刚 | Mathematician (born 1958) |
| Hebe Tien | 田馥甄 | Taiwanese Mandopop singer (born 1983) |
| Tin Ka Ping | 田家炳 | Hong Kong entrepreneur and philanthropist (1919–2018) |
Questions readers ask
What does the Tian surname mean?
The character 田 means ‘field’ or ‘farm’. As a surname it is traditionally traced to Chen Wan, a prince of Chen who took the name Tian after fleeing to the state of Qi.
Is Tian a Chinese last name?
Yes. Tian (田) is a Chinese family name, the 34th most common in mainland China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list.
How common is Tian in China?
It ranked 34th in 2019. Fuxi Institution figures for 2013 put the number of people called Tian at about 6.85 million, 0.52% of the population, with the most in Henan.
How do you pronounce Tian?
Tián, with a rising second tone, as if asking a question. It sounds roughly like ‘tyen’, one syllable.
Is Tien the same as Tian?
Yes, when it is written 田. Tien, or T’ien, is the Wade–Giles spelling used in Taiwan and older Western books, as in the singer Hebe Tien.
Is Tin a Chinese surname?
Yes. Tin is the Cantonese spelling of 田 used in Hong Kong, as in the philanthropist Tin Ka Ping.
Who is the most famous person named Tian?
In sport, the diver Tian Liang, a two-time Olympic champion; in film, the director Tian Zhuangzhuang; in music, the Taiwanese singer Hebe Tien.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Tian (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia (Chinese), 田姓 · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames (Ministry of Public Security 2019 ranking; Fuxi Institution 2013 figures) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- The Paper (澎湃新闻), 公安部发布最新百家姓 (20 January 2020) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- MDBG Chinese–English dictionary, 田 · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction