Leow

Leow is a surname of Chinese origin that appears in various Southeast Asian communities, particularly in Singapore and Malaysia. The spelling Leow reflects a specific Anglicized rendering of a Chinese surname through Hokkien or Teochew dialects and may correspond to more than one character in Chinese.

The exact character or characters represented by Leow can vary by family history, and the spelling does not uniquely identify a single Chinese surname. In practice, Leow is one of several related romanizations that mid-20th-century migrants and diaspora communities used to render Chinese names in English, alongside forms such as Low, Loh, Leong, Liew, Lau, and others.

Geographically, Leow is most commonly encountered among Chinese Singaporeans and Malaysian Chinese, where dialect-based romanizations are prevalent. It also appears among Chinese communities in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, reflecting regional pronunciation patterns and migration waves.

As with many Chinese surnames rendered in English, Leow is primarily a family name and does not carry a standalone meaning in English. Its significance lies in genealogical lineage and cultural heritage, rather than in a separate linguistic definition.

Notable individuals with the surname have contributed across a range of fields, including business, academia, law, and the arts, though no single figure defines the name. The surname’s presence often overlaps with related spellings, illustrating how regional dialects and historical immigration shaped its modern form.

See also: Low, Loh, Leong, Liew, Lau, and other related romanizations of Chinese surnames.