Kang

Kang is a Korean surname that derives from the Sino-Korean character 姜 (gang), which is also the source of the Chinese surname Jiang. The character 姜 originally meant "ginger," reflecting the agricultural origins of the name. Kang (also romanized as Gang) is one of the most common Korean surnames, ranking among the top ten for many decades in South Korea. According to the 2010 United States Census, Kang is the 1,084th most common surname in the US, held by approximately 32,000 individuals, the vast majority of whom are of Asian or Pacific Islander descent (over 93%).

The surname has multiple variant transliterations; the Revised Romanization spelling is Gang, though the older McCune–Reischauer system historically used Kang. In addition to its Korean roots, the modern English surname Kang can also be borne by individuals of Chinese or Meitei origin. In Chinese, it may transcribe Mandarin 康 (Kāng) or Hokkien 江 (Kang); in the context of Meitei (Manipuri) names, Kang can be a shortened form of longer clan names such as Kangabam, Kangjam, or Kangujam.

• Meaning: Derived from the Chinese character 姜, meaning "ginger"
• Origin: Korean (Sino-Korean); also Chinese (Mandarin/Hokkien) and Meitei forms exist
• Types: Surname
• Primary usage regions: Korea, China, United States, India (Manipur)