Sun () is a transliteration of a common Chinese surname (simplified Chinese: 孙; traditional Chinese: 孫; pinyin: Sūn; Yale romanization: Swēn; pronounced [swə́n]). It is the third name listed in the Song dynasty classic text Hundred Family Surnames.
Other transliterations include Suen (Hong Kong and regions with Cantonese-speaking populations), Soon (Amoy dialect), Sng and Soon (Teochew dialect), Tôn (Vietnamese), Son (Japanese/Korean), Soon (regions with Hokkien-speaking populations), Sen/Suan/-son/-zon (Chinese Filipino in the Philippines), and Swen.
In 2019, Sun was the twelfth most common surname in mainland China. A 2013 study found it to be the 12th most common name as well, shared by 18,300,000 people or 1.38% of the population, with the province with the most being Shandong.
Note that in Hong Kong and regions with Cantonese-speaking populations, the surname Xin (辛) is also transliterated as Sun.
Contents
Origins
The name Sunshu Ao (孫叔敖) comes from the surname Wei (蔿), from Yuan (薳) in Chu
Sun Shu (孫叔), the style name of Sunshu Ao, an official in Chu during the Spring and Autumn period His descendants part of the style mame nas their surname.
Hui Sun (惠孫), style name of the son of Wei Wu Gong Hui Sun's grandson later inherited 孫 as his surname.
Sun Shu (孫書), an official in the Qi, was given the name by Duke Jing of Qi because of his contributions in the war between the state of Qi and the state of Lü. Notable descendants through this line include Sun Tzu
People with the surname Xun (荀). changed it to 孫 during the reign of Liu Xun (劉恂), also known as Emperor Xuan of Han, because it had the same pronunciation as the given name of the emperor (in Old Chinese). After the death of Han Xuan Di, some people kept the surname, while others changed it back to their original.
Notable people
Historical figures (in chronological order)
Gongsun Xuanyuan, known as Yellow Emperor
Sun Tzu (544 – 496 BC) – a militarist in the Spring and Autumn period, the author of The Art of War.
Sun Yang (Bole) – a horse physiognomer of the Spring and Autumn period.
Sun Bin (a.k.a. Sun Tzu, Sunzi, died 316 BC) – a militarist in the Warring States period and descendant of Sun Tzu.
Sun Cheng (died 132)
Sun Jing (孫敬) – 2nd-century native of Xindu, Zhili, who was such an ardent student that at night he always tied his hair to a beam overhead, to prevent himself from dozing over his books. He also habitually bolted the door of his study to keep out intruders.
Sun Jian (155–191), Han dynasty military general and warlord
Lady Sun, sister of Sun Jian
Sun Ce (175–200), Han dynasty warlord
Sun Quan (182–252), founding emperor of the Eastern Wu state in the Three Kingdoms period
Sun Liang (243–260), second emperor of Eastern Wu
Sun Xiu (235–264), third emperor of Eastern Wu
Sun Hao (242–284), fourth and last emperor of Eastern Wu
Lady Sun, Sun Jian's daughter
see also Eastern Wu family trees
Sun Shao (163–225), first chancellor of the Eastern Wu state in the Three Kingdoms period
Military and government
Sun Kaihua (died 1893) – a Chinese general in the Battle of Tamsui.
Sun Jiagan (1683–1753) – a Qing dynasty Chinese official.
Sun Shiyi (1720–1796) – a Chinese Viceroy.
Sun Zhizu – a native of Hangzhou, who graduated as jinshi in 1766, and served as a Censor. Author of a work on the discrepancies in the various editions of the famous work by Xiao Tong; and also of a hostile criticism on the Kongzi Jiayu.
Sun Xingyan (1752–1818) – A native of Jiangsu. From 1795 to 1811 he served with distinction in Shantung, where his honesty was often distasteful to his superiors. He published editions of several Classics and topographies he wrote many classical and antiquarian works; and he discovered the graves of Min Sun, Tantai Mieming, and Zeng Dian, three of the disciples of Confucius.
Sun Yuting (1752–1834) – a Chinese governor.
Sun Jiagu – a Qing dynasty envoy.
Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925) – the founder of the Republic of China.
Sun Chuanfang (1885–1935) – a Zhili clique warlord.
Sun Lianzhong (1893–1990) – a general of the Republic of China who fought in the Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II and the Chinese Civil War.
Sun Lih-chyun – spokesperson of Executive Yuan of the Republic of China.
Sun Li-jen (1900–1990) – a general of the Republic of China who fought in the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II and the Chinese Civil War.
Sun Shenglu (1928–1952), Chinese pilot
Other notable people
Michael Suen, the Secretary for Education of Hong Kong
Jonny Sun, a Canadian author and illustrator
Sun Honglei, Chinese Actor (Hong Kong) starring in numerous films and TV dramas
Sun Jihai, a football player from People's Republic of China
Sun Jiaqi (born 2004), Chinese BMX rider
Sun Mingming (born 1983), Chinese basketball player
Sun Nan, a Chinese male singer
Sun Qian (born 1997), Chinese actress
Sun Qinglin (born 1974), Chinese artists, member of Yangjiang Group artist collective
Stefanie Sun, a Singaporean singer-songwriter
Sun Wei, a Japanese fashion model (of Chinese origin)
Sun Wen, a football player from the People's Republic of China
Sun Dong, a football player from the People's Republic of China
Sun Yang, a world champion swimmer from the People's Republic of China
Sun Yue (basketball), an NBA basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers
Sun Zehao (born 1995), an ice hockey goaltender
Jónas Sen, an Icelandic/Chinese music critic, composer and pianist (of Chinese origin)
Fictional people
Sun Wukong – the Monkey-King protagonist of Journey to the West
Son Goku – main character in the Dragon Ball series loosely based on Sun Wukong.
Grandpa Son Gohan – adoptive grandfather of Son Goku from Dragon Ball.
Son Gohan – eldest son of Goku from Dragon Ball.
Son Goten – youngest son of Goku from Dragon Ball.
Son Pan – Son Goku's granddaughter via Gohan from Dragon Ball.
Son Goku Jr. – Great-great-grandson of Goku in the anime Dragon Ball GT
