Chow (surname)
| Language(s) | Chinese (frequently Cantonese), Old English |
|---|---|
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Chew, Zhou, Zou, Cao |
Chow is a Chinese and English surname.
Origins
[edit]As an English surname, Chow originated as a nickname, from Middle English chowe, meaning "chough" or "jackdaw".[1]
As a Chinese surname, Chow may be a romanisation of the pronunciations in different varieties of Chinese of the following surnames, listed based on their Pinyin romanisation (which reflects the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation):
- Zhōu (Chinese:
周 ), romanised Chow based on its Cantonese pronunciation (Jyutping: Zau1; Cantonese Yale: Jāu)[2] - Zōu (Chinese: 鄒), homophonous with the above surname in Cantonese, though not in other varieties of Chinese[3]
- Qiū (Chinese:
秋 ), romanised Chow based on its Cantonese pronunciation (Jyutping: Cau1; Cantonese Yale: Chāu)[4] - Zhào (traditional Chinese:
趙 ; simplified Chinese: 赵)[5] - Cáo (Chinese: 曹)[6]
- Qiú (Chinese:
仇 )[7]
Statistics
[edit]According to statistics cited by Patrick Hanks, there were 1,459 people on the island of Great Britain and 49 on the island of Ireland with the surname Chow as of 2011. In 1881 there had been 19 people with the surname in Great Britain, mainly in Yorkshire.[1]
The 2010 United States Census found 17,059 people with the surname Chow, making it the 2,122nd-most-common name in the country. This represented an increase from 15,650 (2,124th-most-common) in the 2000 Census. In both censuses, slightly less than nine-tenths of the bearers of the surname identified as Asian, between three and four per cent as White, and between three and four percent as Hispanic.[8] It was the 72nd-most-common surname among respondents to the 2000 Census who identified as Asian.[9]
People
[edit]Chinese surname Zhōu (周 )
[edit]- Shouson Chow (
周 壽 臣 ; 1861–1959), Hong Kong businessman - M. D. Chow (
周 今 覺 ; 1878–1949), Chinese philatelist and mathematician - Chow Chih (
周 址 ; 1890–1953), Chinese general of the Second Sino-Japanese War - Chow Chi-yuen (
周 至 元 ; 1900–1971), Hong Kong businessman, founder of the Chow Tai Fook jewellery chain - Chow Chung-cheng (
周 仲 錚; 1908–1996), Chinese-born artist in Germany - Wei-Liang Chow (
周 煒良; 1911–1995), Shanghai-born mathematician who worked in algebraic geometry - Wen Tsing Chow (
周 文俊 ; 1918–2001), Chinese-born American missile guidance scientist - Ven Te Chow (
周 文德 ; 1919–1981), Chinese-born engineer and educator in the United States - Ruby Chow (
周 馬 雙 金 ; 1920–2008), American restaurateur and politician - Chow Lien-hwa (
周 聯 華 ; 1920–2016), Chinese Baptist minister - Yuan-Shih Chow (
周 元 燊; 1924–2022), Chinese-born American statistician - Chow Kwen Lim (
周 君 廉 ; 1928–2016), Hong Kong businessman, founder of the Chow Sang Sang jewellery chain - Chow Chung (
周 驄; born 1931), Hong Kong film and television actor - Chow Yei-ching (
周 亦 卿 ; 1935–2018), Hong Kong businessman - Chow Ching Lie (
周 勤 丽; born 1936), Chinese-born French writer - Chow Yam-nam (
周 欽南; 1937–2013), Thai guru - Michael Chow (restaurateur) (
周 英華 ; born 1939), founder of the Mr. Chow restaurant chain - Chow Kwai Lam (
周 贵林; 1942–2018), Malaysian footballer - Esther Ngan-ling Chow (
周 顏 玲 ; born 1943), Chinese-born sociologist in the United States - Louise Chow (
周 芷; born 1943), Chinese-born biochemistry professor in the United States - Selina Chow (
周 梁 淑 怡; born 1945), Hong Kong media executive and politician - Cheryl Chow (1946–2013), American educator and politician, daughter of Ruby Chow
- Norm Chow (
周 友 賢 ; born 1946), American football coach - Chow Kai Wing (
周 佳 榮 ; born 1947), Hong Kong history professor - York Chow (
周一 嶽 ; born 1947), Hong Kong politician - Chow Chung-kong (
周 松 崗; born 1950), Hong Kong engineer, former CEO of the MTR Corporation - Tina Chow (born Bettina Louise Lutz; 1950–1992), American model and jewelry designer, wife of restaurateur Michael Chow
- David Chow (politician) (
周 錦 輝 ; born 1950), Macau politician - George Chow (
周 烱華; born c. 1950), Hong Kong-born Canadian politician - Chow Kim Hoong (
周 剑雄; 1950–1973), Malaysian-born stateless person and convicted murderer - Robert Chow (
周 融 ; born 1950), Hong Kong journalist - Ronald Chow (
周 美德 ; born 1951), Hong Kong politician - Christine Chow Ma (
周 美 青 ; born 1952), Hong Kong-born wife of former Republic of China president Ma Ying-jeou - Stephen Chow Chun-kay (
周 振 基 ; born 1954), Hong Kong businessman - Jennifer Chow (
周 潔 冰; born 1955), Hong Kong politician - Chow Yun-fat (
周 潤 發 ; born 1955), Hong Kong film actor - Chow Wai-keung (
周 偉 強 ; born c. 1957), Hong Kong social worker and politician - Billy Chow (
周 比 利 ; born 1958), Hong Kong film actor and kickboxer - Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow (
周 國 祥 ; born 1959), Hong Kong-born organized crime boss in San Francisco - Michael Chow (actor) (
周 文 健 ; born 1960), Hong Kong actor - Stephen Chow (
周 星 馳 ; born 1962), Hong Kong film actor and director - Kathy Chow (
周 海 媚 ; born 1966), Chinese actress and singer - Vivian Chow (
周慧敏 ; born 1967), Hong Kong actress and singer - Valerie Chow (
周 嘉 玲 ; born 1970), Hong Kong actress and fashion publicist - Angela Chow (
周 瑛 琦; born 1972), Taiwan-born Canadian actress - Chow Tsz Ki (
周 梓 琪; born 1972), Hong Kong fencer - China Chow (born 1974), British actress, daughter of restaurateur Michael Chow
- Wave Chow (
周榮 佳 ; born 1975), Hong Kong newspaper columnist - Amy Chow (
周 婉儀; born 1978), American gymnast who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics - Duncan Chow (
周 群 達 ; born 1978), Hong Kong actor - Endy Chow (
周 國 賢 ; born 1979), Hong Kong singer - Holden Chow (
周 浩 鼎 ; born 1979), Hong Kong solicitor and actor - Niki Chow (
周 勵淇; born 1979), Hong Kong actress and singer - Chow Chun Fai (
周 俊輝 ; born 1980), Hong Kong artist - Chow Ho-Wan (
周 浩 雲 ; born 1982), Hong Kong racing rider - Janet Chow (
周 家 蔚; born 1983), Hong Kong actress - Crystal Chow (
周 澄 ; born 1986), Hong Kong activist - Edward Chow (
周 嘉 賢 ; born 1987), Hong Kong figure skater - Lori Chow (
周 美 欣; born 1988), Canadian-born Hong Kong fashion model - Chow Cheuk Fung (
周 綽豐; born 1989), Hong Kong footballer - Alex Chow (
周 永 康 ; born 1990), Hong Kong activist - Tim Chow (
周 定 洋 ; born 1994), British footballer who played for Chinese Taipei at the international level - Agnes Chow (
周 庭 ; born 1996), Hong Kong activist - Rey Chow (
周 蕾 ; fl. 1980s–present), Hong Kong-born cultural critic
Chinese surname Zōu (鄒)
[edit]- Edmund Chow (鄒偉
雄 ; born 1925), Hong Kong lawyer - Raymond Chow (鄒文
懷 ; 1927–2018), Hong Kong film producer and executive - Gregory Chow (鄒至
莊 ; born 1930), Chinese-born American economist - Olivia Chow (鄒至蕙; born 1957), Hong Kong–born Canadian politician
- Matt Chow (鄒凱
光 ; born 1968), Hong Kong screenwriter - Chow Ka Wa (鄒嘉
華 ; born 1986), Hong Kong footballer - Chow Kwong Wing (鄒廣
榮 ; born 1986), Hong Kong rower - Chow Mei Kuan (鄒美
君 ; born 1994), Malaysian badminton player
Chinese surname Zhào (趙 )
[edit]- Stefen Chow (赵峰; born 1980), Malaysian photographer
- Jun Yi Chow (赵俊
毅 ), Malaysian composer
Chinese surname Cáo (曹)
[edit]- Raymond Chow (artist) (曹惠
文 ; born 1941), Canadian artist - Chow Kon Yeow (曹观
友 ; born 1958), Malaysian politician
Chinese surname Qiáo (喬 )
[edit]- Liang Chow (乔良; born 1968), Chinese artistic gymnast
Chinese surname Qiú (仇 )
[edit]- Chow Chee Keong (
仇 志 強 ; 1948–2018), Malaysian-born football goalkeeper in Hong Kong
Other
[edit]People with other surnames spelt Chow, or for whom the Chinese characters of their names are unavailable:
- Gin Chow (1857–1933), Chinese immigrant fortune teller in California
- Bob Chow (1907–2003), American sports shooter
- William Kwai Sun Chow (1914–1987), American martial artist
- Chow Shiu-hung (born 1935), Hong Kong-born footballer who competed internationally for the Republic of China
- Chow Kwong Choi (born 1943), Hong Kong cyclist, twin brother of Chow Kwong Man
- Chow Kwong Man (born 1943), Hong Kong cyclist, twin brother of Chow Kwong Choi
- Lucas Chow (born c. 1953), Singaporean media executive
- Jade Chow Wei Mun (born 1957), Malaysian physician
- Chow Tai Ming (born 1959), Hong Kong cyclist
- Helen Chow (born 1965), Malaysian swimmer
- Chow Lai Yee (born 1967), Hong Kong swimmer
- Johny Chow (born John Mark Bechtel, 1972), American guitarist
- Stanley Chow (born 1974), British illustrator
- Felice Chow (born 1977), Trinidad and Tobago rower
- Winston Chow (born 1977), American activist
- Kelsey Chow (born 1991), American actress
- Chi-Ming Chow (fl. 1990–present), Canadian cardiologist
- Deborah Chow (fl. 2000s–present), Australian-born Canadian filmmaker
- Edmond Chow (fl. 2000s–present), American computer scientist
- Jack Chow, American professor of public health
- Jennifer Chow (novelist), American novelist
- Jerry M. Chow, American physicist
- K. Victor Chow, American finance professor
- May Chow, Canadian chef
- Peter Sienpin Chow, electrical engineer in the United States
- Yucho Chow (fl. 1905–1949), Canadian photographer
Fictional characters
[edit]- David Chow (The Young and the Restless)
- Kai-Lan Chow, a female Chinese-American character voiced by Jade-Lianna Peters in Ni Hao, Kai-Lan
- Leslie Chow, a character played by Ken Jeong in The Hangover Trilogy
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hanks, Patrick; Coates, Richard; McClure, Peter, eds. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press. p. 501. ISBN 9780192527479.
- ^ Hanks, Coates & McClure 2016, p. 501, entry #2
- ^ Hanks, Coates & McClure 2016, p. 501, entry #3
- ^ Hanks, Coates & McClure 2016, p. 501, entry #4
- ^ Hanks, Coates & McClure 2016, p. 501, entry #6
- ^ Hanks, Coates & McClure 2016, p. 501, entry #5
- ^ Hanks, Coates & McClure 2016, p. 501, entry #8
- ^ "How common is your last name?". Newsday. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Most common last names for Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S." Mongabay. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
This page lists people with the surname Chow.
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If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.