Our answer
China’s 10th most common surname 周
Taken by descendants of the Zhou royal house; the character also means ‘around’
The short answer
Zhou (周, Zhōu) is a Chinese surname, ranked 10th in China in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list. Tradition says it was taken by descendants of the Zhou dynasty’s royal family after the dynasty fell; the character also means ‘around’. In Hong Kong it is usually spelled Chow or Chau, in Taiwan Chou.
| In Chinese | 周 (the same in simplified and traditional characters) |
|---|---|
| Pinyin | Zhōu (first, high level tone) |
| Rank in China (2019) | 10th, Ministry of Public Security list |
| Other spellings | Chou (Wade–Giles), Chow / Chau (Hong Kong), Chew / Chiu (Hokkien, Teochew), Jow, Joe, Ju (Korean), Châu (Vietnamese) |
| Meaning of the character | The name of the Zhou dynasty; as an everyday word it also means ‘around’ |
| Most numerous in | Hunan province (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
| Population | About 25.2 million, 1.90% of mainland China (2013 Fuxi Institution figures) |
Origins of the Zhou surname
The main line of the Zhou surname traces back to the royal house of the Zhou dynasty, whose family surname was originally 姬 (Ji). Tradition says that after the state of Qin conquered Zhou in 256 BC, a descendant of King Ping of Zhou named Ji Yong, living in Rufen, changed his surname to Zhou to honour his ancestors, and descendants of the last Zhou king, Nan, did the same. From then on Zhou became a common family name in Runan, in today’s Henan.
Like many big Chinese surnames, Zhou also absorbed other families over the centuries. Some Xianbei clans took it under the Northern Zhou, and some Mongol families under the Yuan dynasty. The name is 5th in the classic Hundred Family Surnames primer, which opens 赵钱孙李，周吴郑王.[2]
How Zhou is spelled around the world
周 has one character in both simplified and traditional Chinese, but many spellings in Latin letters.[1][2]
| Spelling | Where | Language or system |
|---|---|---|
| Zhou | Mainland China | Mandarin, Hanyu Pinyin |
| Chou | Taiwan | Mandarin, Wade–Giles |
| Chow, Chau | Hong Kong | Cantonese |
| Chao | Macao | Cantonese |
| Chew, Chiu | Hokkien- and Teochew-speaking families | Min Nan |
| Jow, Joe, Jou, Jue | Overseas Chinese families, varying by region | Older local spellings |
| Ju (Joo) | Korea | Korean |
| Châu, Chu | Vietnam | Vietnamese |
Where Zhou is most common
Zhou ranked 10th in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 list of China’s 100 most common surnames, and it has been among the ten most common surnames since the Yuan dynasty. In the 2013 frequency list compiled by the Fuxi Institution it was also 10th, with about 25.2 million people, or 1.90% of the mainland population, and Hunan was the province with the most people named Zhou.
Over the centuries, migration spread the family across China, broadly from west to east and from south to north. In Taiwan, a 2016 survey placed 周 21st among surnames.[1][2]
Famous people named Zhou
| Name | Chinese | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Zhou Yafu | 周亚夫 | General of the Han dynasty |
| Zhou Yu | 周瑜 | General of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms era (175–210) |
| Zhou Tong | 周侗 | Song dynasty archer, remembered as the teacher of Yue Fei |
| Lu Xun (born Zhou Shuren) | 鲁迅 (周树人) | Writer |
| Zhou Youguang | 周有光 | Linguist (1906–2017) |
| Chow Yun-fat | 周润发 | Hong Kong actor |
| Stephen Chow | 周星驰 | Hong Kong actor and director |
| Jay Chou | 周杰伦 | Taiwanese singer, songwriter and director |
| Zhou Xun | 周迅 | Actress |
| Zhou Guanyu | 周冠宇 | Formula 1 driver |
Questions readers ask
What does the Zhou surname mean?
周 is the name of the Zhou dynasty, and the surname was taken by descendants of its royal house. As an ordinary word the character also means ‘around’.
Is Zhou a Chinese last name?
Yes. Zhou (周) is a Chinese surname and comes first in a Chinese name, as in Zhou Xun. It was the 10th most common surname in China in 2019.
How common is Zhou in China?
Very common. It was 10th in the Ministry of Public Security’s 2019 ranking, and 2013 figures from the Fuxi Institution put it at about 25.2 million people, or 1.90% of the mainland population.
How do you pronounce Zhou?
In Mandarin it is Zhōu, said on a high, level first tone. The ‘zh’ is close to the English ‘j’, and ‘ou’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘go’, so it sounds roughly like ‘joe’.
Is Chow the same as Zhou?
Usually, yes. Chow and Chau are the Hong Kong (Cantonese) spellings of 周, and Chou is the Wade–Giles spelling used in Taiwan. Stephen Chow and Jay Chou share the same surname character.
Is the Zhou surname related to the Zhou dynasty?
Tradition says so. Descendants of the Zhou royal family, originally surnamed Ji, adopted Zhou as their surname after Qin conquered Zhou in 256 BC.
Where do most people named Zhou live?
In the 2013 Fuxi Institution figures, Hunan was the province with the most people surnamed Zhou. Historically the family was strongly associated with Runan, in today’s Henan.
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, Zhou (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Zhao (surname) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction