Last Name Fang

The surname Fang is of Chinese origin and belongs to the Han ethnicity. It is a family name from the Minnan (Hokkien-speaking) region in Fujian Province, southeast China. In Mandarin Chinese, Fang translates to "square" or "wall." However, it's important to note that Chinese surnames have complex histories and origins, and the exact origin of a particular family name can vary based on specific regional dialects and local customs. The Minnan (Hokkien) speaking region in Fujian has a rich history dating back thousands of years, and it is one of the areas where Chinese surnames have been recorded most extensively. Due to historical migrations, people with the last name Fang can now be found worldwide.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Fang

The meaning and origin of the last name Fang

The surname Fang originates from China and is primarily found among ethnic Chinese groups, particularly those from the Han majority. The name is a topographical or geographical surname, indicating that the original bearer lived near a specific physical feature such as a hill or a river. In Mandarin Chinese, "Fang" (方) means 'square' or 'flat', and it could have referred to a flat piece of land or a square-shaped mountain. The name is one of the 501 Chinese surnames recorded in the Book of Names, a compendium of Chinese surnames written during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). Over time, various spelling variations of the name have emerged due to differences in the way Chinese characters are transliterated into Western languages. Examples include Fong, Fangio, and Fango.

Geographical distribution of the last name Fang

The surname Fang has its origins in China and is most prevalent within that country. It is one of the 100 most common Chinese surnames, with variations such as Feng, Hung, or Hong due to differences in pinyin (the system for transcribing Chinese characters into the Latin alphabet). The Fang surname is particularly concentrated in the provinces of Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu, where it represents a significant proportion of the population. Outside China, individuals with the last name Fang can also be found among Chinese diaspora communities worldwide, notably in Southeast Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia. The global distribution of this surname reflects historical patterns of migration and settlement by Chinese people over centuries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Fang

The surname Fang has several variations and spellings across different regions and languages. In English, it is commonly spelled as Fang, but there are also alternative spellings such as Vang, Van, or Faang due to variations in pronunciation and transcription over time. Additionally, the name may be spelled differently in other languages based on transliteration or local customs. For instance, in Chinese, it can be written as 方 (Fāng) in Simplified Characters and 方（Hoong） in Cantonese. In Vietnamese, it can appear as Phong, while in Korean, it could be spelled as Byeon or Pyeon depending on the Romanization system used. These variations highlight the global distribution of people sharing the surname Fang and its diverse heritage.

Famous people with the last name Fang

Notable individuals with the surname Fang include:

1. Li-Chun Fang, a mathematician and Professor Emeritus at Ohio State University, known for his contributions to differential geometry.
2. James S. C. Fang, an American physicist who has made significant advancements in the field of condensed matter physics.
3. David Yong-Fu Fang, a Taiwanese economist and academic, currently serving as the Dean of the College of Management at National Chengchi University.
4. Vivian Fang-Franzoi, an American artist known for her work in Chinese ink painting. She has been exhibited extensively in the United States and Asia.
5. Xiaobing Fang, a Chinese computer scientist who works on artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and information retrieval. He is a professor at Indiana University.

Genealogical research on the last name Fang

The surname Fang is predominantly of Chinese origin, belonging to several ethnic groups, most notably the Han. Its earliest known occurrence dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), as recorded in the "Old Book of Tang." Over time, the Fang family has spread across various provinces in China, with significant populations in Sichuan, Hunan, and Guangdong. During the Qing Dynasty, some Fang descendants migrated to Taiwan. In modern times, members of the Fang clan have made notable contributions in various fields such as politics, education, business, and arts in China and other parts of the world. Notable figures with this surname include Fang Lizhi, a prominent physicist and political dissident, and Fang Su-yi, a renowned Taiwanese author. The name Fang also appears in Korean and Vietnamese populations due to historical exchanges and migrations between China and these countries.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Fang"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 27 July 2025

Share the origin of your last name with your friends