Across languages. Across borders. Across generations.
East AsiaSoutheast AsiaSouth Asia
The name collection
A name is a beginning.
Explore a small collection of surnames, the languages they come from, and the histories behind them.
5 names to discover
China · Chinese李
Li
The character for “plum”
A familiar spelling with more than one possible written origin.
Read the story
In Mandarin, Li can represent several different surnames. The character 李 means plum; 黎 and other characters may also be romanized as Li. The original writing matters when exploring a name’s history.
Historical accounts connect 李 with several origins, including families associated with the Tang dynasty. Sharing the name alone does not establish a shared ancestor.
One name, many clans, and distinct ancestral places.
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The Korean surname Kim is written 김 in Hangul and commonly 金 in Hanja. 金 carries the meaning gold. Different Kim clans have their own histories and ancestral places, including Gimhae and Gyeongju.
A shared surname does not mean that every Kim family belongs to one lineage. A family’s ancestral seat can be a useful next clue.
A surname whose written characters hold historical connections.
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Satō is written 佐藤. Published surname accounts connect it with the Fujiwara family and Fujiwara no Hidesato. Different traditions explain the first part of the name through a place or an official title.
In records outside Japan, the long vowel may appear as Sato, Satou, or Satow. Those spelling differences can matter when searching for family documents.
A widely shared surname with many individual family stories.
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Nguyễn is connected with the Chinese surname 阮, Ruan. Its prominence in Vietnam reflects a complex history of dynastic changes and surname adoption, including the Nguyễn dynasty.
The name alone cannot identify a particular family line. Preserve Vietnamese tone marks when possible and compare documents, places, and family accounts.
A name that travels across communities, places, and generations.
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Singh derives from Sanskrit siṃha, meaning lion. It is used widely among Sikhs and other communities, and can function as a surname or as another part of a personal name.
Its use varies between families and places. Context from the full name and family history is more useful than assuming a single origin from the spelling.
No names in this collection match yet. Try Li, Kim, Satō, Nguyễn, or Singh.
These entries describe selected uses of each surname, not a person’s ancestry. Names can cross languages and communities. The linked dictionary entries are starting points for further research.
Finding your roots
Start with what you know.
You don’t need a complete family tree to begin. A few good questions can turn a familiar name into a new connection.
Write down the name in its original script, if known. Keep alternative spellings, tone marks, and the way your family says it.
02
Ask about the places.
A village, region, or migration route can offer more context than a surname on its own. Begin with the stories your relatives remember.
03
Let records tell the next part.
Compare family documents, photographs, and historical records. Keep a note of each source and the questions still unanswered.
Our purpose
Closer to our roots. More connected to each other.
East Origins is a place to approach Asian names and heritage with curiosity and care. We begin with the words we inherit, while making room for the many languages, communities, and personal stories behind them.
A name is an invitation to learn. Your story is yours to tell.
