Liang (

Romanization Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics, is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, an ...

used in China, ) is an

East Asian East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South ...

surname of Chinese origin. The surname is often transliterated as Leung (in Hong Kong) or Leong (in Macau, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines) according to its

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 ar ...

and

Hakka The Hakka (), sometimes also referred to as Hakka Han, or Hakka Chinese, or Hakkas are a Han Chinese subgroup whose ancestral homes are chiefly in the Hakka-speaking provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hun ...

pronunciation, Neo / Nio / Niu (

Hokkien The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages ...

, Teochew,

Hainan Hainan (, ; ) is the smallest and southernmost province of the People's Republic of China (PRC), consisting of various islands in the South China Sea. , the largest and most populous island in China,The island of Taiwan, which is slight ...

), or Liong (

Foochow Fuzhou (; , Fuzhounese: Hokchew, ''Hók-ciŭ''), alternately romanized as Foochow, is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian province, China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute t ...

). In Indonesia, it is known as Liang or Nio. It is also

common Common may refer to: Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts * Clapham Common, originally ...

in Korea, where it is written Ryang (량) or Yang (양). In

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making it ...

, it's pronounced as Lương. It is listed 128th in the classic text

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 ...

. In 2019 it was the 22nd most common surname in Mainland China. In comparison, it is the 7th most common surname in

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...

, where it is usually written Leung or Leong.

History

During the reign of the Zhou dynasty

King Xuan of Zhou __NOTOC__ King Xuan of Zhou, personal name Ji Jing, was the eleventh king of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. Estimated dates of his reign are 827/25–782 BC. He worked to restore royal authority after the Gong He interregnum. He fought the 'Western ...

(827–782 bc), Qin Zhong set out on an expedition to subdue the peoples to the west in Central Asia. After Qin Zhong died, the King divided the area of Shang among them, the second son of Qin Zhong received the area around

Liangshan County Liangshan County () is a county situated in the southwest of Shandong province, China. It is administered by the prefecture-level city of Jining. Geography Liangshan County is situated north west of Jining in the south west of Shandong provin ...

, from which his descendants developed the surname Liang.https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=liang, retrieved 31 Jan 2020

Notable people with the surname 梁

American

* Awonder Liang

Chinese

Jack Neo Jack Neo (born 24 January 1960) is a Singaporean actor, television host, comedian and film director. He was prominently a full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1983 to 2003. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he was best known for his cross-dressing roles ...

, Chinese name: 梁智強， film director. * Lily Neo, Singapore politician. * Neo Ao Tiew, businessman, philanthropist and sheriff. * Neo Beng Siang, professional basketball coach from Singapore. * Alan Leong (Chinese name; 梁家傑）, Senior Counsel and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong * Andrew Leung, President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong * Antony Leung, banker and former Financial Secretary of Hong Kong * Bryan Leung Hong Kong martial arts actor and director * Liang Chen, professional tennis player *

Liang Cheng Liang Cheng (November 30, 1864 – February 3, 1917), courtesy name Liang Chentung, also known as Liang Pi Yuk, and later as Chentung Liang Cheng, was a Chinese ambassador to the United States during the Qing dynasty. He was primarily respo ...

, Qing dynasty ambassador to the United States * Christine Liang, Taiwanese-born president and founder of ASI Corp., Fremont, California * CY Leung The third Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region * Edmond Leung 梁漢文, Hong Kong Singer, actor and a quarter of Big Four and a finalist of the 8th annual New Talent Singing Awards * Edwaard Liang, Taiwanese-born American choreographer, ballet dancer with Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company and former soloist with New York City Ballet * Edwin Leong, Hong Kong billionaire businessman *

Elsie Leung Elsie Leung Oi-sie, GBM, JP (; born 24 April 1939) is a Hong Kong politician and solicitor. She was Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong from 1997 to 2005 and a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong. Early life and education Leung was b ...

, solicitor and former Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong * Leung Foon, Student of Wong Fei-Hung *

Fish Leong Fish Leong (born Leong Chui Peng on 16 June 1978) is a Malaysian singer and songwriter. Having sold more than 20 million records to date, she has achieved popularity and success in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia. ...

, Malaysian-born Mandopop singer *

Gigi Leung Gigi Leung Wing-kei (Chinese: 梁詠琪, born 25 March 1976) is a Hong Kong singer and actress. Early life She was born at Tsan Yuk Hospital in Sai Ying Pun on 25 March 1976 and was given the name Leung Pik-chi () for superstitious reasons; as ...

, Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress *

Liang Heng Liang Heng () (born 1954) is a Chinese writer and scholar. He co-authored ''Son of the Revolution,'' a memoir of growing up during the tumultuous Cultural Revolution and ''After the Nightmare'', another first-person account of China, this time ...

, Chinese ex-pat writer and scholar * Isabella Leong, Hong Kong-based Macanese actress and former singer *

Katie Leung Katie Leung (born 8 August 1987; ) is a Scottish actress. Initially famous for playing Cho Chang, the titular character's first love interest in the ''Harry Potter'' film series, she is also known for her roles as Caitlyn in the animated se ...

, Scottish film, television and stage actress *

Ken Leung Kenneth Leung (; born January 21, 1970) is an American actor. His roles include Sang in '' Rush Hour'', Miles Straume in '' Lost'', Admiral Statura in '' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'', and Eric Tao in HBO's '' Industry''. Early life Leung wa ...

, American film and television actor *

Lawrence Leung Lawrence Leung (born 25 August 1977) is an Australian comedian, writer, director and actor from Melbourne. He is best known for his television series '' Lawrence Leung's Choose Your Own Adventure'' based his one-man shows on stories about his o ...

, Australian comedian, writer and director * Lawrence Liang, Indian legal researcher and lawyer *

Lei Liang Lei Liang (born November 28, 1972, in Tianjin, China) is a Chinese-born American composer who was a winner of the Grawemeyer Award and a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Music. He is Chancellor's Distinguished Professor of Music at the Univer ...

, Chinese-born American composer *

Martin Leung Martin Leung () is an American pianist. He plays classical music and is known as Video Game Pianist. He gained recognition for playing video game music on the piano, both in concert venues and in online videos. In July 2004, a video of him playin ...

, American pianist *

Matthew H. Liang Matthew H. Liang is a physician specializing in social rheumatology, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Professor of Health Policy and Management at Harvard School of Public Health, and the Director of Special Projects of the Rober ...

, American physician scientist * Leung Jan, Wing Chun practitioner and Chinese herbal doctor from Foshan *

Leung Kwok-hung Leung Kwok-hung ( zh, t=梁國雄; born 27 March 1956), also known by his nickname "Long Hair" (), is a Hong Kong politician and social activist. He was a member of the Legislative Council, representing the New Territories East. A Trotskyist ...

, Hong Kong activits, politician and Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong *

Liang Guanglie Liang Guanglie (, also spelled as Liang Kuang-lieh; born December 1940 in Santai, Mianyang, Sichuan) is a retired general and former Minister for National Defense in the People's Republic of China. Life and career Liang joined the army in J ...

, Minister of National Defense in the People's Republic of China and serves as a general in the People's Liberation Army of China *

Liang May Seen Liang May Seen ( 1871 – 1946) was the first woman of Chinese descent to live in Minnesota. She overcame an impoverished childhood in China and teenage years spent in a San Francisco brothel to become a respected leader in the Chinese immigrant co ...

, first woman of Chinese descent to live in Minnesota, community leader in Minneapolis *

Liang Qichao Liang Qichao (Chinese: 梁啓超 ; Wade-Giles: ''Liang2 Chʻi3-chʻao1''; Yale: ''Lèuhng Kái-chīu'') (February 23, 1873 – January 19, 1929) was a Chinese politician, social and political activist, journalist, and intellectual. His th ...

, Chinese scholar, philosopher, journalist and reformist *

Liang Shan Shan Liang Shan Shan ( – 2 October 1989; ) was a 17-year-old Malaysian schoolgirl who was reported missing in Singapore on 2 October 1989. Liang was found dead nearly two weeks later at Yishun Industrial Park, where her highly decomposed body was di ...

, Malaysian student murdered in Singapore in 1989 * Liang Shih-Chiu, (1903–1987), Chinese educator, writer, translator, literary theorist and lexicographer *

Leong Siew Chor The Kallang River body parts murder was a murder and dismemberment case that occurred in Singapore. The case earned its name due to the body parts of the victim, 22-year-old Liu Hong Mei (), being found disposed in Kallang River. In this case, ...

, Singaporean convicted killer * Stephen Wing Hong Leung, Chinese-Canadian bishop of the Anglican Network in Canada *

Liang Wenbo Liang Wenbo (; born 25 March 1987) is a Chinese professional snooker player based at the Oracle Snooker Club, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. Liang, who plays left-handed, has reached one Triple Crown final, made three Masters appearances, and ...

, snooker player * Liang Wengen, founder and main shareholder of Sany Group and one of the wealthiest men in China * Roseanne Liang, Chinese-New Zealand film director * Toby Leung, Hong Kong television actress * Tony Leung (Leung Chiu Wai), Hong Kong actor and singer * Tony Leung (Leung Ka Fai), Hong Kong actor *

Liang Xiaosheng Liang Xiaosheng (; born 22 September 1949) is a Chinese novelist and screenwriter. Liang is a member of China Writers Association. He is also a professor at Beijing Language and Culture University. His novels have been translated into English, Fr ...

, Chinese novelist and screenwriter * Liang Xueming, footballer *

Liang Xueqing Liang Xueqing (梁雪清), also known as Liang Hsüch-ch'ng, was the sister of three well-known Chinese painters and illustrators from the 1930s and 40s. She was an editor for the Wen Hwa (文华) or ''Culture Arts Review'' pictorial in the 19 ...

, Chinese painter, magazine editor

Filipino

Ronnie Liang Ronnie de Guzman Liang is a Filipino singer, actor, model, and influencer. He is also an Army Reservist and a licensed private pilot. He is currently studying as a commercial pilot and instructor pilot training at the Pilipinas Space and Aviat ...

, Filipino singer * Francisco Tongio Liongson, Early Filipino politician * Pedro Tongio Liongson, Early Filipino politician *

Francisco Alonso Liongson Francisco Alonso Liongson Jr. (July 1, 1896 – May 14, 1965) was a Filipino writer and playwright. He was born into an ''Ilustrado'' family from Pampanga, Philippines at the turn of the 20th century and raised with the revolutionary values of an ...

, Filipino playwright

Thai

Luang Wichitwathakan Major-General Luang Wichitwathakan (also known as just Wichit Wichitwathakan) ( Thai หลวงวิจิตรวาทการ, วิจิตร วิจิตรวาทการ; Chinese 金良) (11 August 189831 March 1962) was a ...

, born Kim Liang (金良), Thai politician, diplomat, historian, novelist, and playwright. Led committee to rename Siam to Thailand.

Vietnamese

* Lương Thế Vinh, Vietnamese scholar and mathematician *

Luong Kim Dinh Liang (Romanization used in China, ) is an East Asian surname of Chinese origin. The surname is often transliterated as Leung (in Hong Kong) or Leong (in Macau, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines) according to its Cantonese and ...

, (15 June 1914 - 25 March 1997) was a Vietnamese catholic priest, scholar and philosopher *

Luong Bich Huu Liang (Romanization used in China, ) is an East Asian surname of Chinese origin. The surname is often transliterated as Leung (in Hong Kong) or Leong (in Macau, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines) according to its Cantonese and ...

, Vietnamese singer

Indonesian

Nio Joe Lan Nio Joe Lan (; also known by the Indonesianised name Junus Nur Arif; 29 December 1904 – 13 February 1973) was a Chinese-Indonesian writer, journalist, and history teacher. Biography Nio was born on 29 December 1904 in Batavia, Dutch East ...

, Indonesian historian

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Liang (Surname) Chinese-language surnames Individual Chinese surnames