---
title: "Zheng (郑): the surname of the ancient state of Zheng, spelled Cheng, Tay or Teh"
url: https://popularinchina.com/culture/chinese-surnames/zheng
section: "Culture"
type: answer
updated: 2026-11-01
next_review: 2027-02-01
status: checked
author: "The Popular in China desk"
fact_checker: "Alex Liu"
publisher: Popular in China (https://popularinchina.com)
license: Quote with attribution and a link to https://popularinchina.com/culture/chinese-surnames/zheng
---

# Zheng (郑): the surname of the ancient state of Zheng, spelled Cheng, Tay or Teh

_Zheng is the 21st most common surname in China and carries one of the longest pedigrees: it is named after a state founded by a Zhou prince almost 2,800 years ago, and the city of Zhengzhou still bears its name. Abroad it is usually spelled Cheng, and in Singapore and Malaysia Tay or Teh. Here is its history, how it is spelled and some well-known people who carry it._

**Verdict: China’s 21st most common surname** (郑) — Named after the ancient state of Zheng, in today’s Henan; spelled Cheng in Hong Kong and Taiwan

## Short answer

Zheng (郑, traditional 鄭, Zhèng) is a Chinese surname, ranked 21st in China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. It comes from the ancient state of Zheng, founded in 806 BC and later centred in today’s Henan. It is spelled Cheng in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and Tay or Teh in Singapore and Malaysia.

## At a glance

- **In Chinese:** 郑 (simplified) / 鄭 (traditional)
- **Pinyin:** Zhèng (fourth, falling tone)
- **Rank in China (2019):** 21st, Ministry of Public Security list
- **Other spellings:** Cheng (Wade–Giles, Cantonese), Cheang / Chiang (Cantonese), Tay / Teh / Tee (Hokkien), The (Indonesia), Ty (Philippines), Trịnh (Vietnamese), Jeong / Jung / Chung (Korean)
- **Meaning of the character:** The name of the ancient state of Zheng, in present-day Henan
- **Most numerous in:** Guangdong province (2013 Fuxi Institution figures)
- **Population:** About 12.4 million, 0.93% of mainland China (2013 Fuxi Institution figures)

## Origins of the Zheng surname

Zheng is named after a state. In **806 BC** King Xuan of Zhou gave his younger brother, Prince You, the fief of Zheng, in what is now Hua County in Shaanxi; the prince is remembered as Duke Huan of Zheng. After the Zhou capital was sacked in 771 BC, his son Duke Wu helped King Ping set up the new Eastern Zhou court at Luoyang, and the state of Zheng moved east into today’s **Henan**.

Zheng lasted until 375 BC, when it was conquered by the neighbouring state of Han. Its ruling family and many of its people then took the state’s name as their surname. **Xingyang**, now part of Zhengzhou, is regarded as the home of the Zheng clan, and the city’s own name, Zhengzhou, means ‘settlement of Zheng’.

The surname comes 7th in the Hundred Family Surnames (百家姓). Under the Tang dynasty the Zheng of Xingyang were one of the seven great noble families of the empire.

Sources: [2][3][4]

## How Zheng is spelled around the world

The character is 郑 in mainland China and 鄭 in traditional characters. Its spellings vary more than most, because Hokkien pronounces it very differently from Mandarin and Cantonese. [1][2]

| Spelling | Where | Language / system |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Zheng | Mainland China | Mandarin, pinyin |
| Cheng | Taiwan, Hong Kong; older books on China | Mandarin (Wade–Giles); Cantonese |
| Cheang, Chiang | Malaysia, Cantonese families abroad | Cantonese |
| Tay, Teh, Tee | Singapore (mostly Tay), Malaysia | Hokkien and Teochew (Min Nan) |
| The | Indonesia | Hokkien, Indonesian spelling |
| Ty | Philippines | Hokkien, Filipino spelling |
| Dang | Fuzhou-speaking families | Eastern Min (Hokchew) |
| Trịnh | Vietnam | Vietnamese |
| Jeong, Jung, Chung (정) | Korea | Korean |

## Where the Zheng surname is most common

Zheng was the 21st most common surname in mainland China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 ranking. The Fuxi Institution’s 2013 figures counted about **12.4 million** people named Zheng, 0.93% of the population, with the largest number in **Guangdong**.

It ranks higher along the south-east coast than nationally: it is the 4th most common surname in Fuzhou, and the 12th in Taiwan. The same character is also one of Korea’s largest surnames: Jeong is the 5th most common in South Korea, with about 2.01 million people in 2000.

Sources: [1][2][3]

## Famous people named Zheng or Cheng

| Name | Chinese | Known for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Zheng He (born 1371) | 郑和 | Ming dynasty mariner who led seven treasure voyages across the Indian Ocean between 1405 and 1433 |
| Zheng Banqiao | 郑板桥 (郑燮) | Qing dynasty painter and calligrapher, one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, known for orchids, bamboo and rocks |
| Cheng Yu-tung (1925–2016) | 郑裕彤 | Hong Kong businessman, founder of Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and the New World group |
| Ekin Cheng | 郑伊健 | Hong Kong singer and actor, star of the Young and Dangerous films |
| Sammi Cheng | 郑秀文 | Hong Kong singer and actress, the ‘Cantopop Diva’ of the 1990s |
| Zheng Qinwen | 郑钦文 | Tennis player, 2024 Paris Olympic women’s singles champion |

> **Note: Cheng, Chang and Tay: check the character**
>
> **Cheng** is the usual spelling of 郑 in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In Hong Kong, Zheng is occasionally written **Chang**, a spelling more often used for 张 ([Zhang](/culture/chinese-surnames/zhang)).
>
> In Singapore and Malaysia, a **Tay**, **Teh** or **Tee** is usually a Zheng: the Hokkien pronunciation of 郑 sounds nothing like the Mandarin one.

Sources: [1][2]

## Questions

**What does the surname Zheng mean?**

Zheng (郑) is the name of an ancient state, founded in 806 BC and later centred in what is now Henan. The people of Zheng took the state’s name as their surname.

**Is Zheng a Chinese last name?**

Yes. Zheng (郑, traditional 鄭) is a common Chinese surname, 21st in mainland China in 2019. The same character is also a major Korean surname (Jeong) and a Vietnamese one (Trịnh).

**How common is the Zheng surname in China?**

It ranked 21st in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. The Fuxi Institution counted about 12.4 million people named Zheng in 2013, 0.93% of the population, with the most in Guangdong.

**How do you pronounce Zheng?**

Roughly ‘jung’, with the vowel of ‘sung’, said with a sharp falling tone (Zhèng). The zh is like the j in ‘jug’ but with the tongue curled back.

**Is Cheng the same as Zheng?**

Often. Cheng is the Wade–Giles and Cantonese spelling of 郑, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, as with the singer Sammi Cheng (郑秀文).

**Is Tay a Chinese surname?**

Yes. Tay is the usual Singaporean spelling of 郑 (Zheng), from its Hokkien pronunciation. Teh and Tee are common in Malaysia.

**Is Zhengzhou named after the Zheng surname?**

Both come from the same source. Zhengzhou, in Henan, takes its name from the ancient state of Zheng, and Xingyang, now part of Zhengzhou, is regarded as the home of the Zheng clan.

## Sources

1. [Wikipedia, List of common Chinese surnames (2019 Ministry of Public Security ranking; 2013 Fuxi Institution figures; Taiwan 2016 survey; romanisations)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_Chinese_surnames) — accessed 2026-11-01
2. [Wikipedia, Zheng (surname)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_(surname)) — accessed 2026-11-01
3. [Wikipedia (Chinese), 郑姓](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%83%91%E5%A7%93) — accessed 2026-11-01
4. [Behind the Name, Zheng (surname)](https://surnames.behindthename.com/name/zheng) — accessed 2026-11-01
5. [Wikipedia, Zheng He](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_He) — accessed 2026-11-01
6. [Wikipedia, Zheng Banqiao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_Banqiao) — accessed 2026-11-01
7. [Wikipedia, Cheng Yu-tung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheng_Yu-tung) — accessed 2026-11-01
8. [Wikipedia, Ekin Cheng](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekin_Cheng) — accessed 2026-11-01
9. [Wikipedia, Sammi Cheng](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammi_Cheng) — accessed 2026-11-01
10. [Wikipedia, Zheng Qinwen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_Qinwen) — accessed 2026-11-01

## Related

- https://popularinchina.com/culture/chinese-surnames
- https://popularinchina.com/culture/chinese-names
- https://popularinchina.com/culture/chinese-surnames/zhang
- https://popularinchina.com/culture/chinese-surnames/lin
- https://popularinchina.com/culture/chinese-surnames/liang

---
Canonical page: https://popularinchina.com/culture/chinese-surnames/zheng