Oh

Oh (sometimes also romanized as O) is a common Korean surname, derived from the Chinese surname Wu (吳). According to the 2015 South Korean census, there were 763,281 people with the surname Oh, making it one of the most frequent Korean family names.

Etymology and Origin

The Korean surname Oh is written with the hanja character 吳 (o). It originated from the Chinese surname Wu, which was borne by the ancient state of Wu, located in present-day Jiangsu province. The Korean variant was likely introduced through Chinese migration and cultural exchange, later becoming a prominent clan name in Korea.

Historical Background

According to Korean tradition, the earliest ancestor of the Oh family is Oh Eung (오응; 吳應), a son of Oh Cheom, a Chinese royal descendant who migrated from China to Silla and married the daughter of a high-ranking Silla official. Over time, sixteen distinct clans (bon-gwan) emerged under the Oh surname, with the largest being the Haeju, Dongbok, Boseong, Hamyang, and Gunwi Oh clans. The three most prominent of these were founded by the brothers Oh Hyeon-bo, Oh Hyeon-jwa, and Oh Hyun-pil, who were each appointed as governors of their respective counties as a reward for their service in defending Goryeo against Khitan invasions.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals with the surname Oh include Oh Se-hoon (former mayor of Seoul), Oh Yeon-seo (actress), Oh Ji-ho (actor), Oh Hyun-kyung (actress), and Oh Taeg-won (singer). In the sports world, Oh Joo-won is a South Korean footballer. The surname has also been adopted by K-pop performers such as Oh My Girl and Sungkyunkwan Scandal cast members.

Variants and Related Names

Besides the romanization "Oh," the variant O is common. In Chinese, the corresponding surname is Wu, while Cantonese speakers use Ng. Vietnamese forms include Ngo or Ngô. These reflect the widespread diffusion of the Wu ancestral clan across East Asia.

• Meaning: Derived from Chinese Wu (吳), referring to the ancient state of Wu
• Origin: Korean, from Sino-Korean hanja 吳
• Type: Surname
• Usage: Korea
• Census rank: One of the top 10 most common Korean surnames