Zeng (, ) is a

Chinese family name 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 ...

. In

Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding a ...

, it is Tsang; In Wade-Giles, such as those in

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the no ...

, Tseng or Tzeng; in

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Mal ...

and

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...

, Chen or Cheng; in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

, Chan; in

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Gui ...

, Tjan; in Vietnam, Tăng. The surname Zeng is the 32nd most common surname in

Mainland China "Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the China, People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming Island, Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territorie ...

as of 2019. It is the 16th most common surname in

. It meant "high" or "add" in ancient Chinese.The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland Zeng is also a German family name with another origin. Zeng was listed 385th on the ''

Hundred Family Surnames The ''Hundred Family Surnames'' (), commonly known as ''Bai Jia Xing'', also translated as ''Hundreds of Chinese Surnames'', is a classic Chinese text composed of common Chinese surnames. An unknown author compiled the book during the Song dy ...

''.

Origin

The surname originates from () an ancient state located in present-day Cangshan County (now Lanling County) in Shandong province, which was granted to Qu Lie, son of the emperor Shao Kang in the

Xia dynasty The Xia dynasty () is the first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography. According to tradition, the Xia dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great, after Shun, the last of the Five Emperors, gave the throne to him. In tradit ...

. The state was annexed by Ju (located mainly in present-day Shandong province) in 567 BC. The crown prince of the state, Wu, fled to Lu. He later dropped the radical in the character and adopted 曾 as his surname.

Generation Character

The Generation Character usually refers to the middle Character of the Chinese Name of a Zeng, and is used to determine the generation and clan a Zeng belongs to.

Generation Character Order

The Generation Character for Zeng from the 63rd Generation to the 97th Generation are as follows:

63rd to 67th Generation (Given in Year 1400)

Hong, Wen, Zhen, Shang and Yan

68th to 77th Generation (Set in Year 1628)

Xing, Yu, Chuan, Ji, Guang, Zhao, Xian, Qing, Fan and Xiang

78th to 87th Generation (Set in Year 1863)

Ling, De, Wei, Chui, You, Qin, Shao, Nian, Xian and Yang

88th to 97th Generation (Set in Year 1870)

Jian, Dao, Dun, An, Ding, Mao, Xiu, Zhao, Yi, Zhang, Yi, Wen, Huan, Jing, Rui, Yong, Xi, Shi, Xu, Chang

Notable people

Zengzi Zeng Shen (505–435 BC), better known as Zengzi (Master Zeng), courtesy name Ziyu (), was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius. He later taught Zisi (Kong Ji), the grandson of Confucius, who was in turn the teacher of Mencius, thus b ...

Philosopher A philosopher is a person who practices or investigates philosophy. The term ''philosopher'' comes from the grc, φιλόσοφος, , translit=philosophos, meaning 'lover of wisdom'. The coining of the term has been attributed to the Greek th ...

and

disciple A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure. It can refer to: Religion * Disciple (Christianity), a student of Jesus Christ * Twelve Apostles of Jesus, sometimes called the Twelve Disciples * Seventy disciples in t ...

Confucius Confucius ( ; zh, s=, p=Kǒng Fūzǐ, "Master Kǒng"; or commonly zh, s=, p=Kǒngzǐ, labels=no; – ) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. C ...

. *

Zeng Shan Zeng Shan (; 1899–1972) was a Chinese Communist military commander and security minister. His wife, Deng Liujin, was one of the few women who participated in the Long March, and later ran a school for the children of high cadres. He was the fa ...

- father of Zeng Qinghong, former Chinese politician *

Zeng Qinghong Zeng Qinghong (born 30 July 1939) is a retired Chinese politician. He was a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, China's highest leadership council, and top-ranked member of the Secretariat of the Central ...

, former politburo standing committee member, Vice President *

Alice Tzeng Alice Tzeng () was born on 22 April 1984. She is a Taiwanese Golden Horse Award nominated actress. Career Alice debuted as a model and starred in a few advertisements. She also appeared on Taiwanese entertainment show '' Guess Guess Guess'' hoste ...

– film actress *

Bowie Tsang Bowie Tsang Po Yee (; born 21 February 1973) is a Taiwanese television host, singer, actress, and writer. She is also known by her nickname Ah-Po (). Career She graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology from National Taiwan University ...

– compere, singer *

Derek Tsang Derek Tsang Kwok-cheung (; born 8 November 1979) is a Hong Kong film director and actor. The son of actor Eric Tsang, Tsang got his start in the Hong Kong film industry working for director Peter Chan Ho-Sun after graduating from University of T ...

– flim actor *

Donald Tsang Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen (; born 7 October 1944) is a former Hong Kong civil servant who served as the second Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2005 to 2012. Tsang joined the colonial civil service as an Executive Officer in 1967, occupyi ...

– former chief executive of Hong Kong *

Edward Tsang Edward Tsang is a Computer Science professor at the University of Essex. He holds a first degree in Business Administration (major in Finance) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (1977), and an MSc and PhD in Computer Science from the Uni ...

– computer scientist *

Eric Tsang Eric Tsang Chi-wai (; born 14 April 1953) is a Hong Kong actor, film director, producer, and television host, best known for hosting the variety show ''Super Trio series'' on the Hong Kong television network TVB over 18 years. He currently holds ...

– film actor, director *

Jasper Tsang Jasper Tsang Yok-sing ( zh, t=曾鈺成; born 17 May 1947) is a Hong Kong politician. He is the founding member of the largest pro-Beijing party the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) from 1992 to 2003 and ...

– former President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong *

Yani Tseng Yani Tseng (; born 23 January 1989) is a Taiwanese professional golfer playing on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour. She is the youngest player ever, male or female, to win five major championships and was ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Ranki ...

– professional golfer *

Tsang Tsou Choi Tsang Tsou-choi (), commonly referred to as the "King of Kowloon" () (12 November 1921 – 15 July 2007) was a Hong Kong citizen known for his calligraphy graffiti. Early years Tsang was born in Liantang Village (), Koyiu (Gaoyao), Shiuh ...

– The Kowloon Emperor (Hong Kong graffiti artist) *

Tsang Yam Pui Tsang Yam-pui (; born 11 September 1946) is the former Commissioner of Police of Hong Kong from January 2001 to December 2003. Also, he is the brother of the former Chief executive Donald Tsang. Their high positions in the government has referr ...

– former commissioner of the Hong Kong Police *

Tseng Chang Tseng Chang (; 18 May 1930 – 25 January 2021) was a Chinese actor. He participated in the films '' Xiang xi shi Wang'', '' Yu ya gon wu'' and ''2012'', with John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet and Thandiwe Newton. On 25 January 2021, ...

– Chinese American actor * Tseng Chung-ming, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare of the Republic of China (2013–2015) *

Tseng Jing-ling Tseng Jing-ling (; born 14 September 1947) is a Taiwanese politician who served as a Republic of China Army general. He was the Minister of the Veterans Affairs Commission of the Executive Yuan from 2009 to 2013. Early career Tseng was born in ...

, Minister of Veterans Affairs Commission of the Republic of China (2009–2013) *

Tseng Ming-chung Tseng Ming-chung or William Tseng (; born 22 January 1959) is a Taiwanese politician. He has served as Deputy Minister of Finance, chaired the Financial Supervisory Commission, and as an elected member of the Legislative Yuan. Education Tseng ...

, Chairperson of the Financial Supervisory Commission of the Republic of China (2013–2016) * Tseng Shu-cheng, Deputy Mayor of Tainan (2015–2016) *

Tseng Yung-chuan Tseng Yung-chuan (born 10 September 1947) is a Taiwanese politician. He was the Secretary-General of the Kuomintang from 2012 to 2014. Education Tseng graduated from Feng Chia University. Kuomintang Secretary-General Secretary-General appoin ...

, Vice President of the Legislative Yuan (2008–2012) * Tseng Yung-fu, Minister of Justice of the Republic of China (2010–2013) *

Zeng Cheng Zeng Cheng (; born 8 January 1987) is a Chinese footballer who currently plays for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League. Club career Zeng Cheng started his football career at top tier side Wuhan Guanggu; however, he was soon loaned ...

, China PR national football team goalkeeper *

Zeng Chengwei Zeng Chengwei (曾成偉) (b. 1958) is a Han Chinese, Chinese musician of the guqin, born in the Sichuan province of China. He is a fifth-generation transmitter (counting from Zhang Kongshan) of the Shu school (蜀派; sometimes called the ''Chu ...

Zeng Fanren Zeng Fanren (; born 1941) was the president of Shandong University Shandong University (, abbreviated as Shanda, , English abbreviation SDU) is a public research comprehensive university in Jinan, Shandong with one campus in Weihai, Shandon ...

Zeng Fanzhi Zeng Fanzhi (; born 1964) is a contemporary Chinese artist based in Beijing. Zeng's works have been praised as possessing an emotional directness, an intuitive psychological sense, and a carefully calibrated expressionistic technique. Born and ...

Zeng Gong Zeng (, ) is a Chinese family name. In Cantonese, it is Tsang; In Wade-Giles, such as those in Taiwan, Tseng or Tzeng; in Malaysia and Singapore, Chen or Cheng; in the Philippines, Chan; in Indonesia, Tjan; in Vietnam, Tăng. The surname Zeng is ...

Zeng Guofan Zeng Guofan, Marquis Yiyong (; 26 November 1811 – 12 March 1872), birth name Zeng Zicheng, courtesy name Bohan, was a Chinese statesman and military general of the late Qing dynasty. He is best known for raising and organizing the Xiang A ...

Zeng Jinlian Zeng Jinlian ( zh, s=曾金莲, t=曾金蓮, p=Zēng Jīnlián, June 26, 1964 – February 13, 1982) was the List of tallest people#Women, tallest woman verified in modern times, surpassing Jane Bunford's record. In the year between Don Koehler's ...

Zeng Jing Zeng Jing (, courtesy name Bochen 波臣); ca. 1564 – 1647 was a Chinese painter during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). He was best known as a portrait painter. Biography Zeng was born in Putian in the Fujian province. He lived and wo ...

Zeng Junchen Zeng Junchen (; 6 September 1888 – 6 July 1964), courtesy name Yun'an (), art name Zhengran (), was a Chinese businessman and opium kingpin from Sichuan. Starting off as a restaurateur and salt merchant, he then became a kingpin and amassed a ...

, "King of Opium" *

Zeng Liansong Zeng Liansong (; 17 December 1917 － 19 October 1999) was the designer of the Flag of the People's Republic of China. He was from Rui'an, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. He entered the economics department at the National Central University (Nan ...

Ovid Tzeng Ovid Tzeng (; born 8 September 1944) is a Taiwanese politician. He was Minister of Education from 2000 to 2002 and Minister of the Council for Cultural Affairs The Ministry of Culture (MOC, ) is the ministry of the Republic of China (Taiwan ...

, Minister of

Council of Cultural Affairs The Ministry of Culture (MOC, ) is the ministry of the Republic of China (Taiwan) that promotes cultural and creative industries. The ministry also maintains thNational Repository of Cultural Heritage History Established in 1981 by Executive Yu ...

of the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...

(2011–2012) *

Zeng Peiyan Zeng Peiyan (; born December 1938) is a Chinese politician. He was a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party from 2002 to 2007 and was a Vice-premier from 2003 to 2008. Early life and career Zeng Peiyan was born in Shaoxing, Z ...

Zeng Qiliang Zeng Qiliang (; born May 10, 1975) is a retired male breaststroke swimmer from PR China. He represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Zeng won the silver medal in the men's 100m breaststroke event at the 1 ...

, Chinese breaststroke swimmer *

Zeng Xian Zeng Xian (曾銑; 1499 - 1548) was a military official of the Ming dynasty of China. Serving in various high military positions in the northern provinces, he was tasked with the defence of the frontier against the Mongols. He was most famous for ...

, Ming dynasty general *

Zeng Xianyi Zeng Xianyi (; January 31, 1936 – January 15, 2011) was a professor of legal history and was the dean of Renmin University of China Law School. Biography Zeng Xianyi received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Renmin University of China Departmen ...

Zeng Xueming Zeng Xueming (;Kong Keli (孔可立),(Ho Chi Minh and his Chinese Wife Zeng Xueming)武汉文史资料 (Wuhan Wenshi Ziliao) (Wuhan Cultural and Historical Data), January 2001. Wuhan, China. October 1905 – 14 November 1991), known in Vietnam ...

(Tăng Tuyết Minh) - Undisclosed wife of

Ho Chi Minh (: ; born ; 19 May 1890 – 2 September 1969), commonly known as ('Uncle Hồ'), also known as ('President Hồ'), (' Old father of the people') and by other aliases, was a Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman. He served as Prime ...

Zeng Yanfen Zeng Yanfen (; born January 30, 1991 in Shaoguan, Guangdong, China) is a Chinese idol singer and actress. She was a member of Team NII of SNH48, a Chinese idol girl group in Shanghai, China. Biography 2013-2015: Early career, debut On Augus ...

Member of SNH48 *

Zeng Yi (painter) Zeng Yi (born 1957) is a professional painter specialized in oil painting. Accomplishments Mr. Zeng was born in Neijiang, Sichuan Province, China. His paintings were published in many fine art magazines such as ''Chinese Oil Painting'', ''Art P ...

Oil painter *

Zeng Meihuizi Chloe Maayan ( Chinese: 曾美慧孜; born October 3, 1988), also known as Zeng Meihuizi, is a Chinese actress and director. She was nominated at 55th Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress, won 38th Hong Kong Film Awards The Hong Kon ...

- film actress *

Zeng Yike Zeng Yike (, born on 3 January 1990 in Changde, Hunan), also known as Yico Zeng or Yico Tseng, is a Chinese singer. She was a finalist on the Hunan TV Hunan Television or Hunan TV () is a provincial satellite TV station officially launched on ...

, Chinese singer

References

External links

* http://www.chineseetymology.org/CharacterASP/CharacterEtymology.aspx?characterInput=%E6%9B%BE Etymology of 曾 {{surname, Zeng Chinese-language surnames Individual Chinese surnames