Zhang (張) is among the most common Chinese surnames. In 1990 edition of Guinness Book of Records, it was listed as the world's most common surname, with over 100 million people worldwide with this surname. It was also ranked third in the People's Republic of China by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in early 2006. [1]. The use of this surname dates back to about 4,700 years ago. It takes the form 張 in Traditional Chinese and 张 in Simplified Chinese. A Chinese surname, family name (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) or clan name (氏; pinyin: shì), is one of the hundreds or thousands of family names that have been historically used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic groups in mainland China, Taiwan, and among overseas Chinese communities. ... Suresh Joachim, minutes away from breaking the ironing world record at 55 hours and 5 minutes, at Shoppers World, Brampton. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiǎntǐzì; also called 简化字/簡化字, jiǎnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ...

Zhang is pronounced and transliterated in a variey of ways. In Mandarin Chinese it is Pinyin: Zhāng, Wade-Giles: Chang, Tongyong Pinyin: Jhāng. In Cantonese it is Yale: Jèung, Jyutping: Zoeng1, Hong Kong Government: Cheung. In Minnan, it is Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tiuⁿ, in Southeast Asia where a variety of dialects are spoken: Teo or Teoh in the Minnan/Teochew dialects, Chong in Hakka, Cheong in Cantonese and many other spellings based on the Romanisation of the Chinese dialects used. The corresponding Korean surname is 장 which is frequently transliterated as Jang or Chang. Some confusion arises with the surnames Zhuang (莊) and Jiang (蔣) that are also written as 장 in Korean, and which are also frequently transliterated as Jang or Chang. The corresponding Vietnamese version is Trương. Standard Mandarin is the official Chinese spoken language used by the Peoples Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Singapore. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell and yin means sound. The most common variant of pinyin in use is called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), also known as scheme of the Chinese phonetic alphabet... Wade-Giles, sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization (phonetic notation and transliteration) system for the Chinese language based on Mandarin. ... Tongyong Pinyin (Chinese: ; pinyin: Tōngyòng pÄ«nyÄ«n; literally Universal/General Usage Sound-combining) is the current official romanization of the Chinese language adopted by the national government (although not all local governments) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since 2002. ... Cantonese is a major dialect group or language of the Chinese language a member of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. ... The Yale romanizations are four systems created during World War II for use by United States military personnel. ... Jyutping (sometimes spelled Jyutpin) is a romanization system for Standard Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (LSHK) in 1993. ... Mǐn Nán (Chinese: 閩南語), also spelt as Minnan or Min-nan; native name Bân-lâm-gú; literally means Southern Min or Southern Fujian and refers to the local language/dialect of southern Fujian province, China. ... Pe̍h-oÄ“-jÄ« (POJ) (Chinese: 白話字; pinyin: ) is an orthography in the Latin alphabet created and introduced to Taiwan by Presbyterian missionaries in the 19th century. ... The Korean name Hong Gildong (a common anonymous name, like John Doe in American English). ...

Another Zhang, 章, is a less common surname which also has the same pronunciation of Zhāng in Mandarin, Cheung in Cantonese, and Jang in Korean. However, this name is pronounced differently in Minnan (Chiong) than Tiuⁿ (張). Likewise, the Vietnamese can clearly distinguish this name, pronounced Chương, from Trương (張).

Zhang is often mispronounced by American English speakers as IPA [ʒæŋ]; its actual pronunciation (IPA [tʂaŋ]), is pronounced somewhat like "jaang." For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words see here. ...

Character analysis

The character (張) per se is comprised of 弓 (gōng -- a bow used in warfare) and 长 (cháng or zhǎng -- "length" "long" or "to grow," though it is probably the latter that contributes to the notion of an expanding bow). Appropriately, the ancient form of this character uses 巨 (jù -- huge, towering) in place of 长, thereby suggesting an even more concrete idea; this form is considered today to be that of an ancient variant which has since faded from everyday usage. Zhāng's literal translation is "to open forth", or "to spread", although its common use is a measure word for (relatively) flat objects such as paper and mattresses. Measure words, in linguistics, are words (or morphemes) that are used in combination with a numeral to indicate the count of nouns. ...

History of the surname (張)

The origin of the surname Zhang is legendary. The fifth son of Huang Di (Yellow Emperor), the legendary supreme ancestor of all Han Chinese, was Qing Yang Shi (青阳氏). Qing Yang Shi's son Hui (挥) was inspired by the Chinese Arc Constellation -- Tian Gong Xing (天弓星) in the sky and invented the bow. Later Hui was assigned as Gong Zheng (弓正), the minister in charge of observing the Arc Constellation and making bows. Then Hui and his descendants were bestowed the surname Zhang, which, if broken into its constituent radicals, would mean "the master of bows" in Chinese. It is believed that the ancestors of Zhang's were archers and the bow as a totem of their tribe. Yellow Emperor The Yellow Emperor (黄帝 Hu ng D ) is a Chinese mythical character, a culture hero said in legend to be the ancestor of all Chinese people. ... A legend (Latin, legenda, things to be read) is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude. ... Han Chinese (Simplified Chinese: 汉族; Traditional Chinese: 漢族; Pinyin: hànzú) is a term which refers to the majority ethnic group within China and the largest single human ethnic group in the world. ...

Zhang had also been a surname by which Manchus and Mongolians chose to sinicize their names since the beginning of the Republic (1912).

Prominent people with Chinese family name 張/张

Entertainment

• Chang, Fei, Taiwanese talk-show host, more commonly known as Fei Ge
• Chang, Jeff, Taiwanese singer
• Chang, Hui Mei, Taiwanese singer/ Tribal Princess
• Cheung, Cecilia, actress and singer from Hong Kong
• Cheung, Jacky, actor and singer
• Cheung, Leslie (1956–2003), actor and singer
• Cheung, Maggie or Zhang Man Yu (*1964), actress
• Cheung Tak Lan, singer
• Teoh Lai-Poh, Arianna, Miss Malaysia, 1997
• Teoh, Lina, Miss Malaysia, 1998
• Zhang Yimou (*1950), film director
• Zhang Li Yin, Chinese singer but a Korean artist. Part of SM Entertainment.

... Chang Hui-mei (張惠妹, Hanyu Pinyin: Zhāng Hùimèi) (b. ... Cecilia Cheung (Hanzi: 張栢芝 pinyin: Zhãng Băi ZhÄ«, Cantonese: Cheung Pak Zhi, born May 24, 1980) is a Hong Kong actress and singer. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is å¼µ (Cheung) Jacky Cheung Hok Yau (Traditional Chinese: , Simplified Chinese: , pinyin: Zhāng XúeyÇ’u; born July 10, 1961 in Hong Kong with family roots in Tianjin) is a Hong Kong singer and film star from the mid-1980s to the... Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing (September 12, 1956 – April 1, 2003) (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Cantonese IPA: , Jyutping: zoeng1 gwok3 wing4; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhāng Guóróng, Wade-Giles: Chang Kuo-jung; nickname Gor-gor (哥哥, Elder Brother in Cantonese) was an actor and a musician from Hong Kong. ... Maggie Cheung in Clean Maggie Cheung Man-yuk (張曼玉; pinyin: Zhāng Mànyù; Cantonese: dzoeng1 maan6 juk9/juk2) (born September 20, 1964) is a multi award-winning actress from Hong Kong. ... Cheung Tak Lan (張德蘭 Teresa) was a famous Hong Kong singer in 80s. ... Miss Malaysia represents Malaysia in two of the major international pageant contest - Miss World and Miss Universe. ... Zhang Yimou (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhāng Yìmóu;  ) (born November 14, 1951) is an internationally acclaimed Chinese filmmaker and cinematographer. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang. ... SM Entertainment is the main producer of Korean pop music, and is the management agency of several Korean pop stars. ...

Literature, writing, journalism

• Chang, Iris (1968–2004), writer
• Chang, Jung or Zhang Rong (*1952), author of Wild Swans
• Zhang Ailing or Eileen Chang (1920–1995), female romantic story writer
• Zhang Dai (1597-1689) Ming dynasty essayist, historian.
• Zhang Xiguo or Chang Hsi-kuo (*1944), Taiwanese science fiction author

Iris Chang This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang Iris Shun-Ru Chang (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhāng Chúnrú; March 28, 1968 – November 9, 2004) was a Chinese American freelance historian and journalist. ... Jung Chang Jung Chang, (Traditional Chinese: 張戎, Simplified Chinese: 张戎, Wade-Giles: Chang Jung, Hanyu Pinyin: Zhāng Róng), (born Er-hong Chang in 1952), is a Chinese-born British writer, best known for her autobiography Wild Swans, selling over 10 million copies worldwide, except in mainland China, where it is... Eileen Chang (Chinese: 张爱玲; Pinyin: Zhāng Àilíng), (September 30, 1920 - found dead September 8, 1995) was a Chinese writer. ... To be considered of the romance genre, a novel should adhere to the following criteria: the story must focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people. ... Zhang Dai 张岱 Zhang Dai,张岱 courtesy name 宗子 Zhongzhi, pseudonym 陶庵, Taoan Ming Dynasty writer, born in Ming dynasty Wan Li 25th year (1597 AD) in Shanying county of Zhejiang, China. ...

Sports

• Chang, Michael (*1972), tennis player
• Zhang Dan (*1985) and Zhang Hao (*1984), figure skaters. Won silver in Pairs and at the 2006 Winter Olympics
• Zhang Juanjuan, athlete
• Zhang Liangliang, Olympian, foil fencer
• Zhang Ning (*1975), badminton player
• Zhang Yuning (*1977), footballer aka Chinese David Beckham

Michael Te-Pei Chang (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ; born February 22, 1972, in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. ... Zhang Dan (Chinese: 张丹, Pinyin: Zhāng Dān, born October 4, 1985 in Harbin, China) is a Chinese figure skater. ... Zhang and Zhang at the 2004 World Championships in Dortmund. ... Four figure skating events were held at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, at the Palavela venue. ... Neve and Gliz, the 2006 Olympics mascots, on display in Turin The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, were celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. ... Zhang Juanjuan (Chinese: 张娟娟, pinyin: Zhāng Juānjuān) (born 2 January 1981 in Qingdao, Shandong province) is an athlete from the Peoples Republic of China. ... Zhang Ning (Simplified Chinese: 张宁, pinyin: Zhāng Níng) (born 19 May 1975 in Shenyang, Liaoning province) is a female badminton player from the Peoples Republic of China. ... Yuning Zhang Zhang Yuning (Simplified Chinese: 张玉宁) (born May 25, 1977 in Liaoning, China) is a Chinese footballer who currently plays for A-League club Queensland Roar. ...

Government, military

• Teo Chee Hean, Singaporean Defence Minister
• Zhang Aiping, Communist Party of China general
• Zhang Chunqiao (1917–2005), member of the Gang of Four
• Zhang Fei (167–221), military leader in the period of Three Kingdoms
• Zhang Liang, aide of Liu Bang. His ancestors were the ministers of State of Han
• Zhang Liao, general of wei during Three Kingdoms period
• Zhang Tingyu (1672–1755), Qing Dynasty politician
• Zhang Tian Australian politician, Acting Member for Moreton and former Transport Minister
• Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang (1901&ndash2001), Manchurian warlord
• Zhang Yi (†309 B.C.), strategist during the Warring States Period
• Zhang Yi, military general of the Kingdom of Shu during the period of Three Kingdoms.
• Zhang Zhidong, Late-Qing Dynasty politician
• Zhang Zizhong, military leader
• Zhang Zongchang, (1881–1932), warlord in Shandong
• Zhang Zuolin or Chang Tso-lin (1873–1928), Manchurian warlord, Zhang Xueliang's father

Teo Chee Hean Teo Chee Hean (Simplified Chinese: å¼ å¿—è´¤; Pinyin: ; born 27 December 1954) is the current Defence Minister of Singapore and a Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Ris-Punggol group representation constituency (GRC). ... Zhang Aiping (Wades-Giles: Chang Ai-ping) (January 9, 1908 - July 5, 2003) was a Chinese communist military leader. ... Zhang Chunqiao (Simplified Chinese: 张春桥; Traditional Chinese: 張春橋; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chang Chun-chiao) (1917–April 21, 2005) was a member of the Gang of Four. ... The Gang of Four on trial The Gang of Four (Chinese: 四人帮; pinyin: ) was a group of Communist Party leaders in the Peoples Republic of China who were arrested and removed from their positions in 1976, following the death of Mao Zedong, and were blamed for the... Zhāng FÄ“i (張飛, c. ... The Three Kingdoms in 262, on the eve of the conquest of Shu. ... Zhang Liang (張良, d. ... Emperor Gao (256 BC or 247 BC–June 1, 195 BC), commonly known inside China as Gaozu, personal name Liu Bang, was the first emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, ruling over China from 202 BC until 195 BC, and one of only two dynasty founders who emerged from... The Han (simplified Chinese: 韩, traditional Chinese: 韓) was a state during the Warring States Period in China. ... Zhang Liao (169 – 222) was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: ; pinyin: QÄ«ng cháo; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun), occasionally known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China and the surrounding territories, establishing the Empire... Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang (張學良, pinyin: Zhāng Xuéliáng, English: Peter Hsueh Liang Chang) (June 3, 1901 – October 15, 2001), nicknamed the Young Marshal (少帥), became the effective ruler of Manchuria and much of Northeast China after the assassination of his father Chang Tso-lin on June... Manchuria (Manchu: Manju; Traditional Chinese: 滿洲; Simplified Chinese: 满洲; pinyin: MÇŽnzhōu, Russian: ) is a vast territorial region in northeast Asia. ... Zhang Yi 張儀 (???-309 BC), born in State of Wei during the Warring States Period of China. ... Alternative meaning: Warring States Period (Japan) The Warring States Period (Traditional Chinese: 戰國時代; Simplified Chinese: 战国时代; Pinyin: Zhànguó Shídài) covers the period from sometime in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by the Qin in 221 BC. It is nominally considered to be the second part... Zhang Yi 張儀 (???-309 BC), born in State of Wei during the Warring States Period of China. ... The Kingdom of Shu (蜀 shǔ) (221 – 263) was one of the Three Kingdoms competing for control of China after the fall of the Han Dynasty. ... The Three Kingdoms in 262, on the eve of the conquest of Shu. ... Zhang Zhidong (Chinese:张之洞; Wade-Giles: Chang Chih-Tung; Courtesy Xiaoda 孝达; Pseudonyms: Xiangtao 香涛, Xiangyan 香岩, Yigong 壹公, Wujing-Jushi 无竞居士, later Baobing 抱冰; Posthumous name: Wenxiang 文襄) (1837—1909) was an eminent Chinese politician during the late Qing Dynasty who advocated for controlled reform. ... The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: ; pinyin: QÄ«ng cháo; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun), occasionally known as the Manchu Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China, expanded into China and the surrounding territories, establishing the Empire... Zhāng Zìzhōng (Traditional Chinese: 張自忠, Simplified Chinese: 张自忠; Wade-Giles Chang Tzu-chung) (1891-May 16, 1940) was a Chinese general of the National Revolutionary Army (NRA) during the Second Sino-Japanese War. ... Zhang Zongchang (pinyin) (Chinese: 張宗昌, WG: Chang Tsung-chang) (1881 – 1932), nicknamed the Dogmeat General, was a Chinese warlord in Shandong in the early 20th century. ...   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Shāndōng; Wade-Giles: Shan-tung) is a coastal province of eastern Peoples Republic of China. ... Chang Tso-Lin (WG) (Chinese: 張作霖, pinyin: Zhāng Zuòlín) (1873 – June 4, 1928), nicknamed the Old Marshall or Mukden Tiger, was a Chinese warlord in Manchuria in the early 20th century. ... Manchuria (Manchu: Manju; Traditional Chinese: 滿洲; Simplified Chinese: 满洲; pinyin: MÇŽnzhōu, Russian: ) is a vast territorial region in northeast Asia. ... Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang (張學良, pinyin: Zhāng Xuéliáng, English: Peter Hsueh Liang Chang) (June 3, 1901 – October 15, 2001), nicknamed the Young Marshal (少帥), became the effective ruler of Manchuria and much of Northeast China after the assassination of his father Chang Tso-lin on June...

Others

• Chang, Victor, surgeon
• Zhang, Dong-Yue "Cecilia", kidnapping and murder victim
• Zhang Guo Lao, one of the Eight Immortals
• Zhang Hanyun, Super Girl
• Zhang Heng or Chang Heng (78–139), astronomer and mathematician
• Zhang Qian or Chang Ch'ien (†113 B.C.), spent 12 years starting in 138 BC exploring much of Central Asia for Emperor Han Wu Di
• Zhang Sanfeng or Chang San-Feng, semi-mythical Taoist master

Dr. Victor Peter Chang AC (Chang Yam Him 張任謙; pinyin: Zhāng Rènqiān; 21 November 1936–4 July 1991) was an Australian heart surgeon, and one of the pioneers of modern heart transplantation. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang Dong-Yue Zhang (張東嶽, Hanyu Pinyin: Zhāng Dōngyuè, March 30, 1994 — October 20, 2003), known as Cecilia Zhang, was a 9-year-old girl who went missing from her Toronto, Ontario, Canada family home in fall 2003, making Canadian... Elder Zhang Guo or Zhang Guo Lao, Chang Kuo Lao in Wade-Giles, (張果老 in pinyin: zhang1 guo3 lao3) is one of the Eight Immortals. ... The Eight Immortals crossing the sea, from Myths and Legends of China, 1922 by E. T. C. Werner. ... Baby Zhang (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ; born April 9, 1989, Deyang, Sichuan), also known as Kristy Zhang, is Chinese singer. ... A scheme of the game This article is about the singing contest, see Supergirl for the comic superhero. ... Zhāng Héng Replica of Zhang Hengs seismometer Houfeng Didong Yi For other uses, see Zhang Heng (disambiguation). ... Zhang Qian leaving emperor Han Wudi, for his expedition to Central Asia from 138 to 126 BCE, Mogao Caves mural, 618-712 CE. Zhang Qian (Chinese:張騫; died 113 BCE) was a Chinese explorer and imperial envoy in the 2nd century BCE, during the time of the Han Dynasty. ... Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC - 130s BC - 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC Years: 143 BC 142 BC 141 BC 140 BC 139 BC - 138 BC - 137 BC 136 BC... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Emperor Wu of Han (156 BC*–March 29, 87 BC), personal name Liu Che, was the sixth emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. A military compaigner, Han China reached its greatest expansion under his reign, spanning from Kyrgyzstan in the west, Northern... Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-mythical Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to date from either the late Song dynasty, Yuan dynasty or Ming dynasty. ... Taijitu This article is about the Chinese character. ...

Prominent people with Chinese family name 章

• Chang, John H., Taiwanese politician
• Zhang Binglin, phonologist
• Zhang Zhong (*1978), chess player
• Zhang Ziyi (*1979), actress
• Zhang Jun (*1977), badminton player

John Hsiao-yen Chiang (Chinese: 蔣孝嚴, pinyin: JiÇŽng Xiàoyán) (born May 2, 1941), formerly John Hsiao-yen Chang (章孝嚴, Zhāng Xiàoyán), is a Kuomintang politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. ... Zhang Binglin (章炳麟 Pinyin: Zhāng Bǐnglín) (December 25, 1868 - June 14, 1936) was a Chinese linguist, specializing in phonology and classics, who laid out the basis for Zhuyin. ... Zhang Zhong (章鍾 born September 5, 1978) is a Chinese chess player. ... Zhang Ziyi (章子怡; pinyin: Zhāng Zǐyí) (born February 9, 1979 in Beijing, China), is a Chinese actress. ... Zhang Jun (张军) (born 26 November 1977) is a male badminton player from the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Prominent people with Korean family name 장 (張/章)

See under Jang (Korean name) Jang or Chang is a common Korean family name. ...

Prominent people with Vietnamese family name Trương (張)

• Truong My Hoa, Vice President of Viet Nam
• Truong Dinh Tuyen, Min. of Trade of Viet Nam
• Truong Vinh Trong, Viet Nam Dep. Prime Min.

Others

• Chang, Cho, fictitious character in the Harry Potter novels
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro, a United States restaurant chain

Cho Chang (born 1979) is a fictional character in J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter book series. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series. ... P.F. Changs China Bistro, Inc. ... A restaurant chain is a set of related restaurants, typically with the same name in many different locations either under shared corporate ownership (e. ...

See also

• list of common Chinese surnames
• list of Korean family names