Surname Shum - Meaning and Origin
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Shum: What does the surname Shum mean?
The last name Shum can be traced back to different Asian origins, predominantly Chinese. Typically, Asian surnames are derived from geographic location, occupation, or an honored person's first name. In the case of "Shum," it is believed to have been the name of a district in ancient China. Folk etymology often suggests it is a transliteration of the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese word 沈, which means "to sink" or "deep". Another interpretation is derived from the Chinese character "岑" meaning "high and steep”, which might be associated with people living in or near highlands or mountainous regions. It's also used widely in Hong Kong and among overseas Chinese communities. Several variations of this surname exist due to differences in regional dialects and romanization systems. Remember that Chinese surnames are usually put before given names and individuals are often addressed by their surname as a form of respect. Shum and its variants, like all surnames, are an integral part of Chinese history and culture, reflecting the complexities of language, migration, and lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisShum: Where does the name Shum come from?
The last name Shum is most commonly associated with people of Chinese origin, particularly those from Fujian (Fukien) province in southeast China. The surname is also found in other parts of the world, including Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
There are many variants of the Shum surname, including Sum, Shom, Shan, and Sume. It is likely that all of these various spellings can be traced to the same origin.
The Shum or Sum surname is one of the most common surnames in China, ranking as the 37th most frequent surname. According to resources, simply the name Shum itself is shared by at least four million people.
Outside of China, the Shum surname and its variants have spread around the world, largely as a result of Chinese immigration to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other nations in the Pacific region. There are also fairly substantial Chinese populations in parts of Southeast Asia, India, and Africa, and the Shum surname is found in many of these regions.
In the United States, records from the 2000 US Census state that a total of 29,174 people share the Sum, Shum, or Shan surname. It is most commonly encountered in California, where it is shared by over 10,000 people. It is also popular in New York, where over 7,000 people share the surname.
In Canada, approximately 5,000 Sums, Shums, and Shans live, and the numbers are similar in Australia. Although the last name is scattered around the world, the surname seems to have retained a disproportionately higher prevalence in regions with a substantial Chinese diaspora.
Variations of the surname Shum
The surname Shum is a Chinese surname derived from the ancient states of Shou and Mou in North China that were prominent during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history (770-476 BC). The surname has multiple variants and spellings, as well as a variety of similarly sounding Chinese surnames from throughout history.
Variants of the surname Shum include Sum, Shu, and Shou. Shum can also be spelled asShum, Sheem, Seem, Shim, Summ, Shumme, Shant, Sheng, Siang, orXu.
Surnames of similar origin to Shum might include Sim, Xu, Shen, Sang, Song, or Sun. Sim has its origin in the old kingdom of Wa in East Asia, Xu was originally from the Chinese Xia Dynasty, and Shen dates back to the Shang Dynasty. Sang was derived from a state called Chang during the Zhou Dynasty, and Song was taken from the ancient state of Xue. Sun was derived from states in central and eastern China during the Spring and Autumn period.
There are a few other Chinese surnames derived from the same family as Shum. These include Tao, Taoism, carries, Luo, Liang, Chen, and Zhou. The ancient state of Taoism was associated with the last Chinese dynasty, carries, and the surname Luo is derived from the surname Shou. The surnames Liang and Chen come from the state of Liang during the Warring States period, and the surname Zhou is derived from the Zhou dynasty.
In conclusion, there are many variations and spellings of the Chinese surname Shum, as well as a variety of similarly sounding surnames with unique origins. These variations and spellings will continue to evolve and change over time, and it is important to be aware of the nuances associated with each one.
Famous people with the name Shum
- Kristin Shum: Canadian figure skater
- Yik Shun Shum: Hong Kong finance specialist
- Chaelin Shum: Professional volleyball player
- William Shum: Former American football player
- Ryan Shum: Professional dancer
- Agnes Shum: Australian film producer
- Miki Shum: Taiwanese actor
- Richelle Shum: American intellectual property lawyer
- Roderick Shum: Canadian actor
- Shanice Shum: Malaysian beauty blogger
- Richie Shum: Chinese-Canadian artist
- Betty Shum: Canadian opera singer
- Xiu Shum: Taiwanese Paralympic athlete
- Kelsea Shum: British artist
- Louis Shum: Chinese-Canadian business owner
- John Shum: Hong Kong film director
- Samson Shum: Hong Kong actor and director
- Abigail Shum: Canadian mathematician
- Chin Shuem: Malaysian martial artist
- Kelvin Shum: Dutch-English lawyer and Brexit advocate