Surname Meng - Meaning and Origin
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Meng: What does the surname Meng mean?
The surname Meng is a Chinese name derived from the characters "孟" and "梦". "孟" is a Chinese surname which was derived from the names of the 10 sons of the legendary hero, Ji Chang, during the time of the Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century–221 BC). The character "梦" also means Dream, making Meng a popular name for many Chinese people.
The surname Meng is relatively uncommon, but is most common in the provinces of Henan, Shandong, and Yunnan in China. It is also found in parts of Vietnam, Singapore, Korea, and Japan.
The name Meng means "elder" or "vigorous". As a Chinese character, "孟" is associated with the word "meng", which is related to initiative, vitality, ambition, and success. As such, the surname Meng is seen as being quite auspicious, as it is linked to both intelligence and a strong mentality.
The character "梦" can also be interpreted in two different ways. First, it is associated with having a positive attitude towards life and projecting this attitude onto others. Second, it is related to having big dreams and ambitions. Those who have the surname Meng are said to be driven, confident, energetic, and passionate.
Overall, the surname Meng is associated with ambition, initiative, vigor, strength, and big dreams. It also connotes a positive attitude and the belief in working hard to achieve success. Thus, being a part of the Meng family is considered to be a blessing, as it is filled with ambitious and energetic people with a passion for life.
Order DNA origin analysisMeng: Where does the name Meng come from?
The surname Meng is one of the most common surnames in China, with approximately 16 million people bearing the name. It is also found throughout East and Southeast Asia, particularly in Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, and Malaysia. In 2020, Meng was one of the top-ten surnames by population in China and Taiwan.
The origins of Meng are shrouded in antiquity and various hypotheses have been proposed. One theory suggests that it is a transliteration of the Chinese character 孟, which references the proto-Sinitic ancestral clans of China's ultimate founder, Yu the Great. Another explanation links the surname to the Three Kingdoms period (221-280) and the kingdom of Shu Han, where the Meng family was part of the ruling class.
Today, Meng is widely distributed in several East Asian countries. In mainland China, the provinces with the highest concentration of Meng are Fujian, Sichuan, Jiangxi and Hunan. In Taiwan, the surname is most common in Kaohsiung, Miaoli, and New Taipei. In Korea, many people bearing the name are concentrated in the provinces of Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do and Chungcheongnam-do. The surname is also found in Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, however in some of these countries, Meng is transcribed into the local language. For example, in Malaysia, the surname is written as 程.
Variations of the surname Meng
Meng is a surname of Chinese origin. It is most commonly written as孟, but can also be written as孟 and蒙. Various spelling variants that can be found include Meng, Mung, Mng, Maang, Mhang, Mheng, Mhongh, Menghe and Mingh.
The surname is most commonly found in the south of China, while its branches are found in Guangdong, Guizhou, Hunan, Fujian, Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces.
In addition to Meng, other surnames of the same origin include Tao, Taoe, Taoi, Tsung, Tu, Tsung, Wast, Whang, and Wu. The spelling of the surname can change slightly in different parts of China, but many of the pronunciations and spelling variants are shared among all of them.
In addition, there are some regional forms of the surname, such as Mek, Mekke, Mekken and Mektoe. These regional variants are primarily found in the northern parts of China and are less common than other spelling variants.
Meng is also the name of several royal clans in China. It is one of the most commonly used surnames among royal people in Southeast Asia. It is also found amongst the Chinese diaspora, particularly in the United States.
Famous people with the name Meng
- Meng Fei: Chinese host of the TV show "If You Are the One"
- Meng Tian: Chinese general of the Qin dynasty
- Meng Yao: Chinese general of the Warring States period
- Meng Hao: Chinese scholar-official of the Eastern Han dynasty
- Meng Jianzhu: Chinese politician
- Meng Qi: Chinese singer and producer
- Meng Anping: Chinese painter
- Meng Tian: Chinese mathematician and polymath
- Meng Wang: Chinese composer
- Meng Hongwei: Chinese public security official, former Vice Minister of Public Security, former Vice President of Interpol
- Meng Zhuo: Chinese writer
- Meng Zi: Chinese philosopher
- Meng Zhaoxu: Chinese diplomat, ambassador to the United Nations
- Meng Yuanlao: Chinese poet and artist
- Meng Chang: Chinese emperor of the Later Zhao dynasty
- Meng Jinyi: Chinese writer and geographer
- Meng Weining: Chinese actress
- Meng Zongbai: Chinese martial artist