Guan Surname

The Origin and Spread of the Surname Guan

The surname Guan is a common Chinese surname with a long history and a widespread presence across the world. In this article, we will delve into the origins of the surname Guan, its meaning and significance, as well as its distribution in various countries.

Etymology and Meaning

The surname Guan (关) is an ancient Chinese surname that has been in use for centuries. It is believed to have originated from the ancient state of Guan, which was located in present-day Shanxi province in China. The character 关 has several meanings in Chinese, including "close" or "shut", which may reflect the original role or status of the Guan clan in ancient times.

According to historical records, the Guan clan can trace its ancestry back to the legendary emperor Zhuanxu, who ruled during the Xia dynasty. The Guan clan later became associated with the state of Qi during the Zhou dynasty and played an important role in Chinese history.

Spread and Distribution

The surname Guan is most commonly found in China, where it ranks among the top 100 surnames in terms of population. It is particularly prevalent in northern China, especially in provinces such as Shanxi, Henan, Shandong, and Hebei. In Taiwan, the surname Guan is also fairly common, with a significant number of people bearing this surname.

Outside of China, the surname Guan can be found in various countries across the world, but in smaller numbers. In the United States, for example, there are over 7,000 individuals with the surname Guan, while in Malaysia and Singapore, the numbers are around 5,000 and 2,000 respectively. Other countries with notable Guan populations include Hong Kong, the Philippines, Canada, and Australia.

Despite its relatively low numbers in most countries, the surname Guan has managed to maintain its presence and significance among Chinese diaspora communities. Many individuals with the surname Guan have achieved success in various fields, including business, academia, and the arts.

Notable Individuals

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Guan who have made significant contributions to society. One such individual is Guan Zhong, a renowned statesman and advisor to Duke Huan of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period in ancient China.

In modern times, there are many notable figures with the surname Guan who have gained recognition for their achievements. These include Guan Yu, a legendary general in the Three Kingdoms period, as well as Guan Xiaotong, a popular Chinese actress and singer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the surname Guan is a prominent and ancient Chinese surname with a rich history and a widespread presence across the world. Despite its origins in China, the surname Guan has managed to transcend geographical boundaries and establish itself in various countries, where individuals bearing this surname continue to make valuable contributions to society.

The surname Guan into the globe

Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it is possible to find African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. Equivalent happens in the case of Guan, which as you are able to corroborate, it can be said that it is a surname that can be found in a lot of the countries of this globe. Just as you can find nations in which certainly the thickness of men and women because of the surname Guan is greater than in other countries.

The map of the Guan surname

View Guan surname map

The chance of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Guan on earth, helps us a lot. By putting ourselves in the map, for a tangible country, we can understand tangible number of people with all the surname Guan, to acquire in this way the precise information of all the Guan that one may presently find in that country. All this also assists us to comprehend not only in which the surname Guan arises from, but also in what way the folks that are initially an element of the household that bears the surname Guan have moved and moved. In the same manner, you are able to see by which places they've settled and developed, and that's why if Guan is our surname, it appears interesting to which other countries of the world it is possible that certain of our ancestors once relocated to.

Countries with more Guan in the world

  1. China China (2706445)
  2. Taiwan Taiwan (21529)
  3. United States United States (7069)
  4. Malaysia Malaysia (5681)
  5. Singapore Singapore (2758)
  6. Hong Kong Hong Kong (2536)
  7. Philippines Philippines (1968)
  8. Canada Canada (1836)
  9. Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (1258)
  10. Indonesia Indonesia (967)
  11. Macao Macao (802)
  12. Brunei Brunei (788)
  13. Spain Spain (747)
  14. Australia Australia (665)
  15. France France (315)
  16. England England (244)
  17. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (237)
  18. United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (164)
  19. New Zealand New Zealand (155)
  20. Liberia Liberia (155)
  21. South Africa South Africa (119)
  22. Japan Japan (94)
  23. Mexico Mexico (91)
  24. Italy Italy (79)
  25. Brazil Brazil (78)
  26. Germany Germany (78)
  27. Sweden Sweden (77)
  28. Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (77)
  29. Netherlands Netherlands (71)
  30. Suriname Suriname (63)
  31. Russia Russia (52)
  32. Ecuador Ecuador (42)
  33. Denmark Denmark (39)
  34. Kuwait Kuwait (37)
  35. Belize Belize (33)
  36. Israel Israel (29)
  37. Norway Norway (28)
  38. Portugal Portugal (28)
  39. India India (26)
  40. Vietnam Vietnam (25)
  41. Ireland Ireland (21)
  42. Scotland Scotland (19)
  43. Switzerland Switzerland (19)
  44. Jamaica Jamaica (15)
  45. Ukraine Ukraine (15)
  46. Finland Finland (14)
  47. Pakistan Pakistan (13)
  48. Venezuela Venezuela (11)
  49. Panama Panama (11)
  50. Nothern Ireland Nothern Ireland (10)
  51. Guatemala Guatemala (9)
  52. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (9)
  53. Chile Chile (8)
  54. Peru Peru (6)
  55. Belgium Belgium (6)
  56. South Korea South Korea (5)
  57. Costa Rica Costa Rica (5)
  58. Nigeria Nigeria (4)
  59. Wales Wales (4)
  60. Bangladesh Bangladesh (4)
  61. Cambodia Cambodia (4)
  62. Thailand Thailand (4)
  63. Argentina Argentina (3)
  64. Austria Austria (3)
  65. Iran Iran (3)
  66. Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (3)
  67. Ivory Coast Ivory Coast (3)
  68. Moldova Moldova (3)
  69. Afghanistan Afghanistan (2)
  70. El Salvador El Salvador (2)
  71. Maldives Maldives (1)
  72. Gabon Gabon (1)
  73. Vanuatu Vanuatu (1)
  74. New Caledonia New Caledonia (1)
  75. Zambia Zambia (1)
  76. Greece Greece (1)
  77. Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda (1)
  78. Hungary Hungary (1)
  79. French Polynesia French Polynesia (1)
  80. Poland Poland (1)
  81. Belarus Belarus (1)
  82. Iceland Iceland (1)
  83. Qatar Qatar (1)
  84. Jordan Jordan (1)
  85. Kenya Kenya (1)
  86. Cameroon Cameroon (1)
  87. Comoros Comoros (1)
  88. San Marino San Marino (1)
  89. Colombia Colombia (1)
  90. Tanzania Tanzania (1)
  91. Luxembourg Luxembourg (1)
  92. Uganda Uganda (1)
  93. Estonia Estonia (1)
  94. Myanmar Myanmar (1)
  95. Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (1)
  96. Mauritius Mauritius (1)