Wan (万) Surname Meaning & Origin

Wan (万) is a well-known Chinese surname. The character 万 has its own dictionary meaning, but as a family name it mainly functions as an identifier rather than a literal description of the family.

In Chinese naming tradition, the family name comes first and is shared across generations. For the surname Wan (万), it’s helpful to understand how Chinese surnames generally formed and why the same surname can show up with different spellings.

Many surnames began as the names of ancient states, fiefs, places of origin, or titles held by ancestors. Others developed from clan names, occupations, or honorifics. Over time, migration, administrative records, and local dialects shaped how a surname was written and pronounced.

It’s also common to see one-character surnames like this one paired with one- or two-character given names. For English readers, the key is consistency: decide on one spelling for official documents and use it everywhere.

For most people, the most useful takeaway is how the surname is written, how it’s pronounced in Mandarin, and which English spellings you may encounter.

Mandarin pinyin spelling: Wan. With tone marks: Wàn.

Below are example full names combining the surname 万 with common given-name characters (one-character given names shown for simplicity):
– 万伟 (Wan Wěi) – great.
– 万琪 (Wan Qí) – fine jade.
– 万杰 (Wan Jié) – outstanding.
– 万明 (Wan Míng) – bright; clear.
– 万晨 (Wan Chén) – morning.
– 万欣 (Wan Xīn) – joyful.

Different dialects and romanization systems can produce different spellings for the same surname. Keep the Chinese character (万) handy to avoid confusion.