zhang

Zhang is a Chinese surname. In Mandarin, it is pronounced Zhāng and written 张 in simplified Chinese or 張 in traditional Chinese. It is among the most common surnames in China and is widely found in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and among Chinese communities worldwide. The name has multiple independent origins; in many lineages it emerged from toponymic or feudal names associated with lands, states, or official posts in ancient China.

The character 张 itself conveys the idea of stretching or spreading, and the surname’s historical origins are varied across different families rather than stemming from a single source.

In terms of transliteration, Zhang is the standard pinyin rendering. In Cantonese, the surname is often romanized as Cheung; in older English-language texts it can appear as Chang. The surname also appears in other East Asian contexts with regionally specific spellings and pronunciations.

Notable bearers include Zhang Heng, a Han dynasty polymath credited with early seismographic invention, and Zhang Yimou, an internationally recognized film director. Today, the surname is widely represented across science, culture, business, and public life, reflecting its broad geographic and linguistic reach.