Most Notable Chinese Surnames by Historical Impact

Defining "Notable Surnames"

Chinese surnames reflect cultural evolution and family lineages. What is considered "notable" often relates to historical prominence, population distribution, or cultural significance.

Top 10 Most Common Surnames

• Sun (孙)
• Li (李)
• Chen (陈)
• Wang (王)
• Zhang (张)
• Li (李)
• Lin (林)
• Li (李)
• Chen (陈)
• Li (李)

Regional Distribution

Cultural Significance

Historical records show that 22.7% of Chinese families carry surnames traced to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Notable examples include:

• Song (宋) -皇族后裔
• Li (李) - Tang Dynasty aristocracy
• Li (李) - Ming Dynasty military families

Modern Research

Academic studies emphasize surname analysis for understanding migration patterns. Key references include:

• 《中国姓氏大辞典》by Wang Zongyuan (2003)
• Smith, J. (2020). "Surnames and Social Mobility in Modern China".
• Li, H. (2018). "Regional Distribution Analysis of Chinese Surnames".