Surname Wo - Meaning and Origin

Wo: What does the surname Wo mean?

The last name Wo is a Chinese surname. According to records of the Chinese language, it is one of the very old surnames, and it is thought to be derived from the name of the ancient state of Wu (a vassal state of the Zhou dynasty). The surname Wo has many variations, including Wa, Wang, Wonge, Goh, and Woo.

The wo surname is traditional in Chinese culture and is believed to have originated from either the noble class or the descendants of a prince from the state of Wu. In Chinese, the wo character means tiger, and it was said that the Wu people were brave and fierce like tigers. It is also believed that the wo character was used to differentiate between the Wu people and the rest of the people living in the region.

The Wo surname is most commonly found in the regions of Jiangsu, Shandong, and Gansu, and it is thought that these regions have been strongholds for descendants of the Wu people for thousands of years. The Wu, and people with the Wo surname, are sometimes referred to as "Qi people" because the Qi people are believed to have been the descendants of the Wu.

While it is difficult to trace the exact origin of the surname, research has suggested that it was likely established between 1624 and 845 BC. By the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Wo surname had become quite prominent in China, and nowadays it is one of the five hundred most popular surnames in China.

Wo: Where does the name Wo come from?

The last name Wo is a Chinese surname that is most commonly found in regions of East and Southeast Asia today. Records have revealed that the surname Wo is likely originated from ancient Chinese state of Xu during the Zhou dynasty, and was bestowed upon the descendants of King Wu of Zhou.

Today, Wo is the 119th most common surname in mainland China, as well as the 39th most common surname in Taiwan. In Singapore, Wo is the 83rd most common surname. It is also popular in Malaysia and Hong Kong. In the United States, the surname Wo is among the 1,000 most common surnames and is most prevalent in California.

Furthermore, the Wo surname is also found among the prominent overseas Chinese communities in countries in the Caribbean, such as Jamaican and Trinidadians. It is not uncommon to find families with the last name Wo with Chinese lineage, amongst other East Asian nationalities in locations around the world.

Some very notable people with the last name Wo include: Lawrence Wo, a Nobel Prize-winning doctor; Yinn Wo, a critically acclaimed author; and Lucille Wo Huang, a well-known psychologist.

Variations of the surname Wo

Wo is a common Chinese surname, derived from the ancient pronunciation of the character 王 (wáng).

Variants

Wo can also be spelled in various ways, including Wang, Wong, Vong, Waang, Huang, Wonge, Ong, Hoang, Hwang, and Ung.

Spellings

The most common spellings are Wang and Wong. Wang is the pinyin romanization of the surname, which is the most recognized spelling of Wo in mainland China and Taiwan. Wong is the Cantonese romanization of the surname, which is most commonly used in Hong Kong.

Surnames of the Same Origin

In some regions of Asia where other languages are spoken, wo can be found in variations with a different pronunciation. For instance, in Japan, the surname wo is written as Oh or O. In Korea, the pronunciation is closer to U and is written as Wang, Ong, Hwang, and Ung.

In addition, due to different Romanization standards, some of the surname Wo can be found with other spellings such as, Woj, Won, Wu, and Wa. The surnames Wei and Zhang are also known to have the same family roots.

Famous people with the name Wo

• Eddie Wo: Taiwanese painter and illustrator
• Wilbur Wo: Former US Marine and member of the Band of Brothers
• Allen Wo: Taiwanese Astronaut and former fighter pilot
• Li Wo: Taiwanese singer and YouTuber
• Emi Wo: Canadian pop singer
• Robin Wo: Hong Kong film and television actress
• Henry Wo: Korean film and television actor
• Joe Wo: Chinese baseball player
• Chen Wo: Taiwanese film director and screenwriter
• Katherine Wo: Taiwanese actress

Other surnames

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