Hong is the common English spelling of 홍, in hanja, it means "wide" or "big".

Hong
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHong
McCune–ReischauerHong

Clans

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As with all Korean family names, the holders of the Hong surname are divided into different patrilineal clans, or lineages, based on their ancestral seat. Most such clans trace their lineage back to a specific founder. This system was at its height under the yangban aristocracy of the Joseon Dynasty, but it remains in use today. There are approximately 241 such clans claimed by South Koreans. Historically, there had been 10 clans known but currently there are four clans remaining. Hong clans include Namyang, Pungsan, Bugye, and Hongju.

Namyang clan

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The biggest clan is Namyang clan (Korean남양 홍씨; Hanja南陽 洪氏; RRNamyang Hongssi) whose founder was Hong Eun-yeol in the Goryeo Dynasty. Another founder of this clan was Hong Seon-haeng. Thus, the Namyang Hong clan is unique among Korean surnames in that it includes two separate unrelated family lines.

Pungsan clan

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All ancestry of Andong's Pungsan Hong (Korean풍산 홍씨; Hanja豊山 洪氏; RRPungsan Hongssi) may be traced to the Goryeo dynasty's Hong Ji-gyeong, later known as a great master of Korean classical verse in the Joseon Dynasty. The Pungsan Hong were known as yangban among yangbans. Hong Jin was a direct descendant of Hong Ji-gyeong.

List from the past

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Famous Koreans from the past with this family name:

  • Hong Beom-do (1868–1943), Korean independence activist
  • Hong Dae-yong (1731-1783), Joseon philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician
  • Hong Gyeong-nae (1771–1812), Joseon rebel leader
  • Hong Jin (1877–1946), Korean independence activist
  • Hong Sa-ik (1889–1946), Korean-Japanese war criminal

Current notable people

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See also

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  NODES
Note 1