Byeon

Byeon is a Korean surname, written in Hangul as 변. In English-language contexts, it is commonly romanized as Byeon, Byun, Pyun, or Pyon, reflecting different transliteration systems and personal or family preference.

The name is represented by several hanja characters, and as a result includes multiple distinct lineages that are not necessarily related beyond sharing the same pronunciation. The hanja forms used for Byeon convey different meanings, with 邊 (edge, border) and 變 (change) among the more frequently encountered variants, while other characters are also used by smaller family lines. Because of these multiple origins, people with the surname Byeon may belong to different ancestral lineages.

In Korea, surnames are associated with bon-gwan, or ancestral hometowns, which indicate lineage and regional origin. The Byeon surname has multiple bon-gwan lines, so individuals with the surname can have different genealogical roots tied to different regions. This system helps distinguish otherwise identical surnames across families.

Today, Byeon is found throughout Korea and among the Korean diaspora. Individuals with this surname appear in various fields, including politics, sports, arts, and academia, reflecting the name’s presence across society. As with many Korean surnames, its significance lies in its lineage, regional origins, and the historical paths of the families that bear it.