Ke () is 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, unlik ...

. It originally appeared 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 ...

. As of 2006 was no longer one of the top 100 most common surnames. A 2013 study found that it was the 145th most common surname, shared by 1.06 million people or 0.080% of the population, with the province most being

Hubei Hubei (; ; alternately Hupeh) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, and is part of the Central China region. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Dongting Lake. The p ...

. It is also spelled as Quah, Qua, Kua, Kuah, Kwa, Ke, Ker, Ko, Kok, Or or O in English. It is O in Cantonese. ()

Origin

There are several origins of this last name: #the descendants of Duke Ke Lu (柯盧) of the

State of Wu Wu (; Old Chinese: ''*'') was one of the states during the Western Zhou dynasty and the Spring and Autumn period. It was also known as Gouwu ( /''*''/) or Gongwu ( /''*''/) from the pronunciation of the local language. Wu was located at t ...

during the

Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

; #the descendants of a tribe in

Northern Wei Dynasty Wei (), known in historiography as the Northern Wei (), Tuoba Wei (), Yuan Wei () and Later Wei (), was founded by the Tuoba (Tabgach) clan of the Xianbei. The first of the Northern dynasties, it ruled northern China from 386 to 535 during t ...

whose surname was originally Keba (柯拔) but was simplified to Ke; #the descendants of the Qiang tribe or the

Xianbei The Xianbei (; ) were a Proto-Mongolic ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. They originated from the Donghu people who splintered into th ...

tribe with the last name Ke. One website lists it as originating from the town of Han in

Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Ji ...

Province while another states it originated in Jiyang Prefecture (located in present-day Dingtao County,

Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal Provinces of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in His ...

Province) during the

Jin Dynasty (266–420) The Jin dynasty (; ) or the Jin Empire, sometimes distinguished as the (司馬晉) or the (兩晉), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed from 266 to 420. It was founded by Sima Yan (Emperor Wu), eldest son of Sima Zhao, who had p ...

Prominent people with the family name 柯

* Cua Yi Lam, baptized as Domingo Lamco, patrilineal ancestor of Jose Rizal, Philippine national hero * Ke Mengde, a Song Dynasty poet *

Ke Jiusi Ke Jiusi (; c. 1290 – 1343) was a Chinese landscape painter, calligrapher, and poet during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368).Cihai: Page 1282. Ke was born in the Zhejiang province. His style name was 'Jingzhong' (敬仲) and his pseudonym A ...

(柯九思), a Yuan Dynasty officer * Ke Qian, a Ming Dynasty scholar * Ke Weizhen, a Qing Dynasty poet *

Blackie Ko Shou Liang Blackie Ko () (February 22, 1953 – December 9, 2003) was a Taiwanese film director, producer, stuntman, singer and actor. Blackie was considered to be the greatest automotive stunt choreographer in Asia. Personal life In 1956, his family move ...

(柯受良), modern director, actor, stuntman *

Alan Ke You Lun Alan Ko (), also known as Alan Kuo or Alan Ke, is a Taiwanese singer and actor. Career Ko is the son of the late Taiwanese stuntman/actor, Blackie Ko Shou Liang and his wife Sung Lai Wah. For his father, he had written two songs, each in one of ...

(柯有綸) a Taiwanese singer and actor; son of

Ker Chien-ming Ker Chien-ming (; born 8 September 1951) is a Taiwanese politician. Early life He obtained his bachelor's degree in dental science from Chung Shan Medical University and master's degree in management science from Tamkang University. Polit ...

(柯建銘), Taiwanese politician *

Danny Quah Danny Quah () is Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Quah's work includes contributions to the fields of economic growth, development economics, monetary economics, ...

Professor of economics, London School of Economics *

Kwa Geok Choo Kwa Geok Choo (; 21 December 1920 – 2 October 2010) was a Singaporean lawyer. She was the wife of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the mother of current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. She was also the co-founder and partner of l ...

, the wife of Singapore's first prime minister,

Lee Kuan Yew Lee Kuan Yew (16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015), born Harry Lee Kuan Yew, often referred to by his initials LKY, was a Singaporean lawyer and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Singapore between 1959 and 1990, and Secretary-General o ...

Ko Chen-tung Kai Ko Chen-tung (; born Ko Chia-kai on 18 June 1991) is a Taiwanese actor, singer and film director. Ko won Best New Actor at the 48th Golden Horse Awards and the 12th Chinese Film Media Awards for his starring role in the film ''You Are the A ...

(柯震東), a Taiwanese actor and singer *

Ko Chia-yen Ko Chia-yen (; born 10 January 1985), also known as Alice Ko, is a Taiwanese actress. Career Ko's debut acting role was in the 2006 film ''Do Over'', by award-winning director Cheng Yu-chieh. Subsequently, she had starring roles in the film ...

(柯佳嬿), a Taiwanese actress *

Ko Wen-je Ko Wen-je (; born 6 August 1959), also known by his nickname, Ko P (), is a Taiwanese politician and physician. Ko was mayor of Taipei from 2014 to 2022, and Chairman of the Taiwan People's Party since 2019. Before becoming mayor, he was a docto ...

(柯文哲), mayor of Taipei *

Ke Jie Ke Jie () is a Chinese professional Go player of 9 dan rank. He was born on August 2, 1997 in Liandu District, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province. Career 2008–15: Early Career and Bailing Cup Breakthrough Ke Jie started to learn how to pla ...

(柯洁), a Chinese World Go Champion *

Quah Chow Cheung Quah Chow-cheung ( Chinese: 柯昭璋, 8 June 1913 in Penang – 1965 in Hong Kong) was the Colony Commissioner of The Scout Association of Hong Kong from 1950 to 1953, succeeding Victor Halward. He was the first Chinese Colony Commissioner ...

(柯昭璋), a Hong Kongese commissioner *

Simon Ko Simon Ko or Ko Shen-yeaw () is a Taiwanese politician, who is currently the Taiwanese Representative to Spain.Quah Kim Lye Quah Kim Lye (born 1943) is a former Singapore national football team captain who played for National Football League side Tampines Rovers and the Singapore Lions in the Malaysia Cup as a striker. Born to father Quah Heck Hock and mother Lau A ...

, a Singaporean footballer *

Quah Kim Song Quah Kim Song (, born February 1952) is a former Singapore international footballer who played as a striker. Quah's swift agility earned him the nicknames "Mercurial", "Quicksilver" and "Speed Demon" by fans and media.Jacintha Stephens, & ...

(柯金松), a Singaporean footballer *

Quah Ting Wen Quah Ting Wen (; born 18 August 1992) is a Singaporean professional swimmer who specialises in butterfly, freestyle and individual medley events. She is currently representing DC Trident at the International Swimming League. Education Q ...

(柯婷文), a Singaporean swimmer * Quah Zheng Wen (柯政文), a Singaporean swimmer * Quah Jing Wen (柯敬文), a Singaporean swimmer *

Ke Qingshi Ke Qingshi ( Chinese: 柯庆施; October 10, 1902 – April 9, 1965) was a senior leader of the People's Republic of China and Chinese Communist Party in 1950s and 1960s. Born in She County, Anhui Province, Ke joined Chinese Socialist Youth ...

(柯庆施), senior Chinese politician

Prominent people with the family name Kha

Kha is a Vietnamese variant of the family name Ke (柯) * Kha Mỹ Vân, a Vietnamese model

References

External links

Origin of surname Ke, Ker and QuahGoogle group post on Chinese surname Ke number 164
{{surname Chinese-language surnames Individual Chinese surnames

Origin

Prominent people with the family name 柯

Prominent people with the family name Kha

See also

References

External links