Mo () is an uncommon
Korean surname
A Korean name (Hangul: ; Hanja: ) consists of a family name followed by a given name, as used by the Korean people in both South Korea and North Korea. In the Korean language, ''ireum'' or ''seongmyeong'' usually refers to the family name (''seon ...
, It originated from either of two
hanja
Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom.
(, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, wh ...
( or ), which are also used respectively to write the Chinese surnames
Móu or
Máo. The 2000 South Korean census found a total of 19,834 people and 6,110 households with these surnames.
The surname is spelled Mo in all standard
methods of romanizing the Korean language. In a study by the
National Institute of the Korean Language
The National Institute of Korean Language is a language regulator of the Korean language. It was created on January 23, 1991, by Presidential Decree No. 13163 (November 14, 1990). It is based in Seoul, South Korea.
The institute was originall ...
based on 2007 application data for
South Korean passports, all the applicants spelled this surname as Mo. The alternative spelling Moh is occasionally seen.
More common lineage
(), also called (), is the more common of the two hanja used to write the surname Mo. This character was originally used to write a
Chinese surname
Chinese surnames are used by Han Chinese and Sinicized ethnic groups in China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and among overseas Chinese communities around the world such as Singapore and Malaysia. Written Chinese names begin with surnames, unlike the ...
now pronounced
Móu in Mandarin. In 1960 it was the 92nd-most common surname in South Korea, falling to 93rd by 1985.
The 2000 South Korean census found 18,955 people with this family name, and 5,838 households.
The surviving ''
bon-gwan
Bon-gwan (or Bongwan) is the concept of clan in Korea, which is used to distinguish clans that happen to share the same family name (clan name). Since Korea has been traditionally a Confucian country, this clan system is similar to ancient Chinese ...
'' (origin of a clan
lineages, not necessarily the current residence of clan members) at that time included:
*
Hampyeong
Hampyeong County (''Hampyeong-gun'') is a county in South Jeolla Province, South Korea.
History
Hampyeong used to be called Jinguk(진국) in prehistoric times, and Mahan in the Samhan age. Mahan consisted of 54 smaller counties, and it is estim ...
, South Jeolla (see
Hampyeong Mo clan): 17,939 people and 5,546 households.
They claim descent from
Mo Gyeong (; ), who came from the
Hongnong Commandery
Hongnong Commandery ( zh, 弘農郡), also known as Hengnong Commandery ( zh, 恒農郡), was a commandery of China from Han dynasty to Tang dynasty, located in modern western Henan and southeastern Shaanxi.
Hongnong was established in 113 BC. Th ...
(in present-day
Henan
Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...
),
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
to Korea, and aided in suppressing the rebellion by
Yi Ja-gyeom
Yi Ja-gyeom (died 19 January 1127) of the Incheon Yi clan, was a Korean politician, soldier, regent, and poet in the middle Goryeo dynasty. In 1122, he became the Duke Hanyang (한양공, 漢陽公) and the Duke of Joseon State (조선국공, 朝 ...
during the reign of
Injong of Goryeo
Injong of Goryeo (29 October 1109 – 10 April 1146) (r. 1122–1146) was the 17th monarch of the Korean Goryeo dynasty. He was the eldest son of King Yejong and Queen Sundeok, the daughter of Yi Ja-gyeom. His reign saw two major internal crises ...
.
*
Jinju, South Gyeongsang: 972 people and 285 households.
They are likely a branch of the Hampyeong Mo clan. They claim descent from Mo Sun (), an official during the reign of
Taejo of Joseon
Taejo of Joseon (4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), born Yi Seong-gye (), was the founder and first ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After ascending to the throne, he changed his name to Yi Dan (), and reigned from 1392 to 1398. He was ...
.
*
Naju
Naju () is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea.
The capital of South Jeolla was located at Naju until it was moved to Gwangju in 1895. The name Jeolla actually originates from the first character of Jeonju () and the first character of Na ...
, South Jeolla: Two people and zero households.
*Other or unknown: 34 people and seven households.
Less common lineage
() is the less common of the two hanja used to write the surname Mo. This character was originally used to write a Chinese surname now pronounced
Máo in Mandarin. In 1960 it was the 146th-most common surname in South Korea, falling to 164th by 1985.
The 2000 South Korean census found 879 people with this family name, and 272 households.
The surviving ''bon-gwan'' at that time included:
*
Gongju
Gongju ([]; Gongju-si) is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea.
History
Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo. Goguryeo had overrun ...
, South Chungcheong: 352 people and 114 households.
The founding ancestor of the clan is not known.
*
Guangzhou
Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong Kon ...
, China: 309 people and 95 households.
Members of the
Guangzhou Mo clan[Also called Gwangju Mo clan, based on the Sino-Korean pronunciation of Guangzhou; not to be confused with ]Gwangju
Gwangju () is South Korea's sixth-largest metropolis. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister. The city was also the capital of South Jeolla Province until the provincial office ...
Metropolitan City or Gwangju, Gyeonggi
Gwangju () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, a suburb southeast of Seoul. The city is not to be confused with the much larger Gwangju Metropolitan City, former capital of South Jeolla Province, South Korea.
History
''Bunwon-ri'' in Gw ...
, both in South Korea. claim distant ancestry from China, where this surname originated in the
Xihe Commandery
Xihe Commandery ( zh, 西河郡) was a historical commandery of China, located in modern northern Shanxi and part of Inner Mongolia. The name "Xihe" referred to a southward section in the middle reaches of the Yellow River.
The commandery was sepa ...
(present-day
Shaanxi
Shaanxi (alternatively Shensi, see #Name, § Name) is a landlocked Provinces of China, province of China. Officially part of Northwest China, it borders the province-level divisions of Shanxi (NE, E), Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichu ...
). It is not clear when the founding ancestor brought the surname to the
Korean peninsula
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
or where he lived, but it is believed to be somewhere in
Chongju
Chŏngju (; also Jŏngju) is a ''si'', or city, in southern North P'yŏngan province, North Korea. Prior to 1994, it was designated as a ''kun'' or county. The terrain is mostly level, but mountainous in the north. To the south lies the Chŏ ...
,
North Pyongan
North Pyongan Province (Phyŏnganbukto; , also spelled North P'yŏngan), is a western province of North Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former P'yŏng'an Province, remained a province of Korea until 1945, th ...
.
[An area which became part of ]North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...
after the division of Korea
The division of Korea began with the defeat of Empire of Japan, Japan in World War II. During the war, the Allies of World War II, Allied leaders considered the question of Korea's future after Japan's surrender in the war. The leaders reached ...
[ Which cites .]
*
Gimhae
Gimhae () is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is the seat of the large Gimhae Kim clan, one of the largest Kim clans in Korea. The Gimhae Kims claim descent from the ancient royal house of Geumgwan Gaya, which was based in Gim ...
, South Gyeongsang: 101 people and 28 households.
*
Seosan
Seosan () is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, with a population of roughly 175,000 according to the 2017 census. Located at the northwestern end of South Chungcheong Province, it is bounded by Dangjin City, Naepo New Town, Yes ...
, South Chungcheong: 91 people and 26 households.
*Other or unknown: 26 people and nine households. "Other" includes people listing their ''bon-gwan'' as
Jeonju
Jeonju () is the 16th largest city in South Korea and the capital of North Jeolla Province. It is both urban and rural due to the closeness of Wanju County which almost entirely surrounds Jeonju (Wanju County has many residents who work in Jeonju) ...
, North Jeolla;
Papyeong, Gyeonggi;
Pyeonghae
Pyeonghae is a South Korean town. It is administered as part of Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province.
Name
Pyeonghae's name means "Peaceful Sea(s)". It appears in 19th-century sources as "Pingai", "Pingai Harbor", and "Ping-hai Harbor"..
Geo ...
, North Gyeongsang; , North Jeolla; and , North Gyeongsang.
People
People with this surname include:
*
Moh Youn-sook (; 1910–1990), South Korean poet
*
Mo Myeong-hui (; born 1963), South Korean sprinter
*
Mo Ji-soo
Mo Ji-soo (Hangul: 모지수; born 3 June 1969) is a South Korean short track speed skater, who won a gold medal in the 5000 m relay at the 1992 Winter Olympics together with teammates Kim Ki-hoon, Lee Joon-ho, and Song Jae-kun
Song Ja ...
(; born 1969), South Korean speed skater
*
Mo Joong-kyung
Mo Joong-kyung (; born 23 August 1971) is a professional golfer from South Korea who currently plays on the Asian Tour, where he has won twice.
Early life
Mo was born in Seoul and turned professional in 1995.
Professional career
After turning p ...
(; born 1971), South Korean golfer
*
Mo Chang-min
Mo Chang-min (; born May 8, 1985 in Gwangju) is an infielder who plays for the NC Dinos in the Korea Baseball Organization League. He bats and throws right-handed.
Amateur career
After graduating from Gwangju Jaeil High School, Mo went und ...
(; born 1985), South Korean baseball player
*
Mo Tae-bum
Mo Tae-bum (, Hanja: 牟太釩; ; born 15 February 1989) is a South Korean speed skater. He is the 2010 Olympic Champion and the 2012 and 2013 World Champion in 500 m. He started speedskating while in the third grade. Prior to the 2010 Winte ...
(; born 1989), South Korean speed skater
See also
*
:Mo clans of Korea
Notes
References
{{reflist, colwidth=30em
Korean-language surnames