Ding is a common Chinese surname. It is the pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of two distinct Chinese characters: 丁 (dīng), meaning "man" or "person"; and 定, which appears in place names such as Dingzhou. The character 丁 is the most frequent source of the surname, and its written form resembles a nail, symbolizing strength and stability. Etymology and History The surname 丁 has multiple origins. In some cases, it was adopted by descendants of dignitaries from the state of Qi during the Zhou dynasty, notably the son of Duke Ding of Qi (Qi Ding Gong), whose posthumous name contained ding. Others bear the name from the character 丁 used as a given name in ancient times. Additionally, during the Three Kingdoms period, the general Ding Feng served the state of Wu. The surname 定 is rarer. Historically, Ding can also derive from the placename Dingzhou (定州), a prefecture under the Northern Wei, Sui, and Tang dynasties located in present-day Hebei Province. In Republican China, the area was organized as Ding County (Dingxian). A separate romanization of the Eastern Min pronunciation of the surname 陳 (Chen) is also spelled Ding, though this form is less common. Distribution and Variants Ding is among the 100 most common surnames in China. It is especially concentrated in the southern provinces, including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong, though it appears nationwide. Non-Chinese adaptations include the spelling Ting (from Wade-Giles). Notable Bearers Notable individuals with the surname Ding include: Ding Youxiang, Chinese politician and general of the early People's Republic. Ding Yanhou, Qing dynasty official and inventor of the first Chinese steam engine. Meaning: "man", "person", or relating to placenames of Hebei. Origin: Chinese, from the character 丁 or a Hebei placename. Type: Surname Usage: Chinese Related names: Ting, Chen