张
Zhāng
Rank #3•~87 million
Origin of the Zhāng Surname
The Zhang surname originated from Hui, a grandson of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi). Hui was credited with inventing the bow and arrow, and the character 张 means 'to draw a bow' or 'to stretch.' The Yellow Emperor was so impressed that he bestowed the surname Zhang upon Hui and his descendants. The Zhang family has been one of the most widespread clans in China for over 4,000 years. During the Han Dynasty, Zhang Liang served as a key strategist who helped Liu Bang establish the dynasty. The surname spread throughout China and became particularly prominent in northern regions.
Meaning of 张 (Zhāng)
Meaning
To draw a bow, to stretch, to open. The character combines 弓 (bow) and 长 (long).
Strokes
7
Radical
弓
Five Elements
Fire
Famous People with Last Name Zhāng
1
Zhang Heng (张衡)
Han Dynasty polymath who invented the world's first seismoscope
2
Zhang Sanfeng (张三丰)
Legendary Taoist master credited with creating Tai Chi
3
Zhang Yimou (张艺谋)
Acclaimed film director known for Hero, House of Flying Daggers, and directing the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony
4
Zhang Zhongjing (张仲景)
Han Dynasty physician known as the 'Hippocrates of China'
5
Zhang Ziyi (章子怡)
Internationally renowned actress known for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Popular Names with Zhāng
👦 Male Names
张伟 (Zhāng Wěi)Great, mighty
张磊 (Zhāng Lěi)Stones piled high, upright
张强 (Zhāng Qiáng)Strong, powerful
张鹏 (Zhāng Péng)Roc, a mythical giant bird
张涛 (Zhāng Tāo)Great waves, billows
👧 Female Names
张丽 (Zhāng Lì)Beautiful, elegant
张敏 (Zhāng Mǐn)Quick, clever
张静 (Zhāng Jìng)Quiet, serene
张婷 (Zhāng Tíng)Graceful, slim
张雪 (Zhāng Xuě)Snow, pure and white
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the surname Zhang mean?▾
Zhang (张) means 'to draw a bow' or 'to stretch open.' It combines the characters for 'bow' (弓) and 'long' (长).
How many people have the surname Zhang?▾
Approximately 87 million people in China bear the surname Zhang, making it the third most common Chinese surname.
What is the origin of the Zhang surname?▾
Zhang originated from Hui, grandson of the Yellow Emperor, who invented the bow and arrow. The emperor bestowed the name Zhang (meaning 'to draw a bow') upon him.