Korean surnames are family names used in the Korean-speaking of North Korea and South Korea, with China’s influence bearing most of their origins.
Unlike western cultures, Korean surnames consist of only one syllable tied to general names and then subdivided into clans in a patrilineal ancestry.[1] Because of this stricter naming tradition, there is much less variety in Korean surnames than among western surnames.
Although North and South Korea are politically divided, Korean surnames generally follow the same history, tradition, and naming conventions.[2]
History of Korean surnames
Given the strong geopolitical influence and occupation of Korea by the Chinese and Japanese throughout its history, it is no surprise that these cultures have also had a significant influence on Korean sociolinguistics patterns.[2] Many Korean surnames are heavily influenced by the Chinese language, though today, their native symbol writing system, hangeul, is used in place of Chinese characters.[1]
Historically, surnames in Korea were only used by upper class families and clans, and commoners were not given a surname.[3] When Japan started its occupation of Korea in 1910, commoners then adopted their masters’ surnames. Because surnames were originally reserved for nobility when they were introduced, there was quite limited variety in the naming convention passed through generations, and when all Koreans started adopting a surname, they resorted to the limited pool of existing family names, thus the repetition of a limited number of Korean surnames.[4]
Naming culture in North Korea and South Korea has followed similar historical traditions for generations.[1] Korean surnames use the Eastern name order, referring to the surname first and the first name last. Because of its connection with other countries around the globe, South Korean culture is slowly changing based on western influences, and younger generations are beginning to place their surname at the end. Furthermore, many Koreans who emigrate outside of Asian countries reverse their name order to match Western naming conventions.
Korean naming conventions
Korean family surnames are nearly always a single syllable, and customarily precede an individual’s personal name. Often all siblings or cousins of a generation within a family will share the same Korean family surname. For example, related cousins within the same generation may all share the family surname Ryu in front of their first name, with names Ryu Aera, Ryu Jiah, and Ryu Minji.[1]
Korean family surnames are also defined by clan (“bongwan”) heritage, which is determined by historical geographic or importance.[5] In Korea, both the family name and birthplace where the ancestor of the lineage originated are used to distinguish between such distinct family lineages within the larger family surname. For example, a Korean’s surname Jeongju Lee means he or she descended from a certain family (Lee) from the Jeonju region. Separately, a Korean’s surname of Gyeongju Lee means that he or she descended from a certain family (Lee) from the Gyeongju region. These Koreans would be said to have different clans.[2]
Historically, the Korean surname is patronymic, meaning it is passed onto children from the father’s side. Names are very important in Korean culture. The ancestral family lineage is maintained by the oldest male in each family, whose responsibility it is to keep the ‘family tree book’ updated. Koreans typically know the origins of their family names.[3] After the male-dominated family registry Hoju System was abolished in 2008 in favor of more gender-equitable attitudes, children are now permitted to inherit their mother’s surname if the parents agree.[6] Traditionally, Korean women do not typically take their husband’s surname upon marriage.
It should also be noted that Korean personal names (given at birth) usually consist of two symbols or characters that combine to form a single unit, and Korean middle names are rarely (if ever) given.[2] The second character is typically the clan/generational name. Korean names can be translated into the Roman alphabet from their original characters, which can result in multiple spellings of the same Korean surname. For example the most common surname Lee may also be spelled Yi, Li, Ri, Ree, Ni, Rhee, or Leigh.[5]
Most popular Korean surnames and their origins
Although there are a variety of Korean family surnames, the three most prevalent surnames make up nearly 50% of all Korean surnames.[3] These three names and their origins are as follows:
- Kim (김) - Kim translates into “gold” in the English language. The Kim surname has royal origins dating back to the Silla dynasty from 57 B.C. and lasted roughly 700 years, making it one of the most common surnames in Korea. When ‘common’ families were able to choose a surname, many chose the biggest surname at that time for social or economic advantage -- Kim.[7]
- Lee (Li or Yi) (이) - Lee translates to “plum tree” in English. It is thought that Laozi (proper name Li Er) was the first prominent individual to use Li as a surname and is regarded as the founding ancestor for the family name Lee.
- Park (박) - The surname Park can trace its origins to Korean King Pak Hyeokgeose as its founding ancestor. Park is believed to come from the Korean word bak which translates to “gourd” in English.
Geographic locations for top Korean surnames
Korean surnames are common in Asian Pacific countries, and countries they have emigrated to in significant numbers, such as North America, Europe, and South America.
Celebrities with Korean surnames
- Jeon Jung-Kook - member of South Korean band BTS.
- Kim Dae-Jung - President of South Korea from 1998-2003 and recipient of the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize.
- Bong Joon-Ho - South Korean filmmaker; his 2019 film Parasite became the first non-English film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
- Yi Soyeon - Became South Korea’s first astronaut in 2008 and she became the first person under the age of 30 to travel to space.
- Ban Ki-Moon - South Korean diplomat who served as the Secretary General of the United Nations from 2007-2016.
Ethnicities and genetic groups of top Korean surnames
People with Korean surnames are likely to have Japanese and Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese, and Mongolian ethnic origins, according to MyHeritage South Korea DNA users’ data.
Explore more about Korean surnames
- Search Last Names on MyHeritage
- Historical record collections on MyHeritage
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Evason, Nina. (2021). South Korean Culture: Naming. Cultural Atlas.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Anonymous. (2022, March 4). Korean Names: What are the Naming Customs in Korea? Flexi Classes LTL Language School.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cruz, K. (2021, October 04). A Guide to Korean Family Names. Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Norway.
- ↑ S.C.S. (2014). Why So Many Koreans are Called Kim. The Economist (Online).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Anonymous. (n.d.). An Introduction to Korean Names: Are All Kims the Same? Asia Society.
- ↑ "Hoju System to Be Replaced." Statesman (New Delhi, India) [New Delhi] 2007: Statesman (New Delhi, India), 2007. Web.
- ↑ Murray, L. (2016, August 10). Why Are So Many Koreans Named Kim?. Encyclopedia Britannica.