Hong is the common English spelling of 홍, in

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, ...

, it means "wide" or "big".

Clans

As with all Korean family names, the holders of the Hong surname are divided into different patrilineal clans, or lineages, based on their

ancestral seat A family seat or sometimes just called seat is the principal residence of the landed gentry and aristocracy. The residence usually denotes the social, economic, political, or historic connection of the family within a given area. Some families to ...

. Most such clans trace their lineage back to a specific founder. This system was at its height under the yangban aristocracy of the

Joseon Dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...

, but it remains in use today. There are approximately 241 such clans claimed by South Koreans. Historically, there had been 10 clans known but currently there are four clans remaining. Hong clans include Namyang, Pungsan, Bugye, and Hongju.

Namyang clan

The biggest clan is Namyang clan () whose founder was Hong Eun-yeol in the Goryeo Dynasty. Another founder of this clan was Hong Seon-haeng. Thus, the Namyang Hong clan is unique among Korean surnames in that it includes two separate unrelated family lines.

Pungsan clan

All ancestry of

Andong Andong () is a city in South Korea, and the capital of North Gyeongsang Province. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 as of October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city. Andong is a ...

's Pungsan Hong () may be traced to the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificat ...

dynasty's Hong Ji-gyeong, later known as a great master of Korean classical verse in the

. The Pungsan Hong were known as yangban among yangbans.

Hong Jin Hong Jin (27 August 1877 – 9 September 1946), also known as Hong Myeon-hui, was a leader of the Korean independence movement. He is also sometimes known by his pen name Mano (만오, 晩悟), and his Christian name, Andre. He was born under th ...

was a direct descendant of Hong Ji-gyeong.

List from the past

Famous Koreans from the past with this family name: * Hong Gildong, main character of a book attributed to Heo Gyun (1569–1618) *

Hong Dae-yong Hong Daeyong (; 12 May 1731 – 17 November 1783), styled Damheon (, "Relaxed house") was a philosopher, astronomer and mathematician of the late Joseon Kingdom. Hong was an early leader of the ''Profitable Usage and Benefiting the People'' () ...

(1731-1783), was a Silhak scholar, astronomer and mathematician * Hong Gyeong-nae (1771–1812), a leader of a farmer's revolt during

Current notable people

* Sin Cha Hong (born 1943), South Korean avant-garde dancer * Francis Hong Yong-ho (1906–?), Roman Catholic prelate in North Korea * Hong Chul (born 1990), South Korean footballer *

Gene Hong Gene Hong is an American writer and producer best known for his writing on TV series' ''Magnum P.I.'', ''Lethal Weapon'', ''Bones'' and '' Community''. As an actor, he may be best known for being in the original cast of MTV's ''Nick Cannon Prese ...

, Korean American actor, producer, and screenwriter * Hong Hei-Kyung (born 1959), Korean-American operatic soprano *

Jay Hong Jay Hong (born June 19, 1986) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and producer. He debuted as a member of duo named Blue Marble in 2011, and he released his first solo single "Without You" in 2012. "Without You" was included in the South Korea ...

(born 1986), South Korean singer-songwriter and producer *

Hong Jeong-ho Hong Jeong-ho (, or ; born 12 August 1989) is a South Korean footballer who plays for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors as a centre-back. His brother Hong Jeong-nam is also a footballer. Club career On 1 September 2013, Hong Jeong-ho transferred to FC ...

(born 1989), South Korean footballer *

(1877–1946), Korean independence activist, leader of the

Korean independence movement The Korean independence movement was a military and diplomatic campaign to achieve the independence of Korea from Japan. After the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910, Korea's domestic resistance peaked in the March 1st Movement of 1919, whic ...

* Hong Joon-pyo (born 1953), South Korean politician and former prosecutor *

Hong Jung-wook Ryan Jungwook Hong (홍정욱; born March 14, 1970) is a Korean entrepreneur, businessman, and politician. Hong is the chairman and owner of Herald Corporation and related companies, a leading content and lifestyle group in Korea, and the found ...

(born 1970), South Korean entrepreneur, businessman, and politician * Hong Jin-kyung (born 1977), South Korean entrepreneur, model, actress and comedian * Hong Jin-young (born 1985), South Korean trot singer * Hong Jong-hyun (born 1990), South Korean model and actor *

Hong Jung-eun Hong Jung-eun (born 1974) and Hong Mi-ran (born 1977), collectively known as the Hong sisters (), are South Korean television screenwriters currently managed by Studio Dragon. Together, they have written popular romantic-comedies, notably '' M ...

(born 1974), one-half of South Korean screenwriting duo

Hong Sisters Hong Jung-eun (born 1974) and Hong Mi-ran (born 1977), collectively known as the Hong sisters (), are South Korean television screenwriters currently managed by Studio Dragon. Together, they have written popular romantic-comedies, notably '' ...

Hong Kyung Hong Kyung (born February 14, 1996) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his role in the film ''Innocence'' (2020), which won him a Baeksang Arts Award. Career After graduating from Hanyang University, Hong made his acting debut with ...

(born 1996), South Korean actor * Hong Kyung-min (born 1976), South Korean singer * Hong Mi-ran (born 1977), one-half of South Korean screenwriting duo Hong Sisters * Hong Myung-bo (born 1969), South Korean footballer and manager * Nansook Hong (born 1966), daughter-in-law of Sun Myung Moon * Hong Sa-ik (1889–1946), highest-ranking ethnic Korean general in the Imperial Japanese Army, executed for war crimes * Hong Sang-soo (born 1960), South Korean film director and screenwriter * Hong Seok-cheon (born 1971), South Korean actor famous for publicly coming out *

Hong Seok-hyun Hong Seok-hyun (born October 20, 1949) is a noted figure in South Korean media industry. He is the chairman of JoongAng Holdings, Korea Peace Foundation and Korea Baduk Association. He is a brother-in-law of Lee Kun-hee. In 1994 he became the pr ...

(born 1949), South Korean media corporation executive * Seokju Hong (born 2003), South Korean footballer * Hong Song-nam (1929–2009), former premier 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 Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and T ...

Hong Sook-ja Hong Sook-ja () is a South Korean activist, politician, and writer. She was appointed South Korea's first female diplomat and later became the first female presidential candidate to enter the electoral foray, having done so in South Korea's firs ...

(born 1933), South Korean diplomat, writer, and first female presidential candidate * Hong Yong-Jo (born 1982), North Korean footballer * DPR Live (born Hong Dabin, 1993), South Korean rapper * Giriboy (born Hong Siyoung, 1991), South Korean rapper

Clans

Namyang clan

Pungsan clan

List from the past

Current notable people

See also