Choi is a common Korean surname, derived from the Sino-Korean character 崔 (choe), which means "high, lofty, towering." The name is also found in Chinese communities, though with a different etymology: in Cantonese, it is a romanization of 蔡 (coi3), a surname meaning "tortoise" or referring to an ancient state. The variant Choe represents the standard Korean romanization, while Choi stems from an older system.
Etymology and Usage
The Korean surname Choi is written with the hanja 崔, composed of the radical for "mountain" (山) and a phonetic component. The meaning "lofty" may reflect ancestral aspirations or a geographic origin. The name is one of the most common in South Korea, with approximately 2.3 million bearers, placing it among the top five surnames. The Chinese surname 蔡 (Cài in Mandarin, Choi in Cantonese) is also widespread, notably among Chinese diaspora communities. In English records, Choi often represents the Cantonese pronunciation of 蔡, while Tsai and Cai are the Mandarin equivalents.
Distribution and Demographics
According to the 2010 United States Census, Choi was the 674th most common surname, with 50,786 bearers. It is most prevalent among Asian/Pacific Islander populations, reflecting immigration from both Korea and Chinese regions such as Hong Kong and Guangdong.
Related Names and Variants
Alternative English spellings of the Korean surname include Choe (McCune-Reischauer) and Choy. The Chinese surname 蔡 appears under many romanizations: Cai (Mandarin Pinyin), Tsai (Wade-Giles), Choy (Cantonese), Tsoi (Yale Cantonese), Choi (Cantonese variant), and even Chui. The name is a doublet of Cui (Chinese origin) through different sound shifts.
Notable Bearers
The name Choi is carried by numerous prominent figures in Korean culture and history, including: Choi Jin-young (singer, actor), Choi Eun-hee (actress), Choi Si-won (singer, actor, member of Super Junior), and intellectual Choi Myung-rok. In early Korean kingdoms, some historical records mention the Gyeongju Choi clan as a powerful noble family in Silla.
- Meaning: High, lofty, towering
- Origin: Korean (from Sino-Korean 崔) and Chinese (from 蔡)
- Type: Surname
- Usage: Korea, China (especially Cantonese), worldwide diaspora