Ngo is a Vietnamese surname, a simplified variant of Ngô. The name Ngô is the Vietnamese form of the Chinese surname Wu 1, from Sino-Vietnamese 吳 (ngô).Etymology and HistoryThe root of the surname is the Chinese character 吳 (wú), which refers to the ancient state of Wu, a major kingdom during the Zhou dynasty located in present-day Jiangsu province. The Vietnamese adopted the Chinese writing system and, with it, many surnames of Chinese origin. Over time, the character 吳 was adapted in Vietnam as Ngô, and a simplified spelling as Ngo emerged, likely through romanization practices that omitted diacritics.Notable BearersNotable individuals with the surname Ngo include Ngo Bao Chau, a Vietnamese mathematician and Fields Medalist, and Ngo Dinh Diem, the first president of South Vietnam. The surname is primarily associated with Vietnam but also occurs among the Vietnamese diaspora worldwide.Meaning: Derived from the Chinese character 吳, referring to the ancient state of WuOrigin: Vietnamese, ultimately of Chinese originType: SurnameUsage Regions: Vietnam