Wikipedia

Choi (Korean surname)

(Redirected from Ch'oe (Korean surname))
This article is about the Korean surname Choi. For Cantonese romanisation of the Chinese surname Cai (蔡), see Cai (surname).

Choi (Korean: 최; Hanja: 崔) is a Korean family surname. As of the South Korean census of 2015, there were around 2.3 million people by this name in South Korea or roughly 4.7% of the population.[1] In English-speaking countries, it is most often anglicized Choi, and sometimes also Chey, Choe or Chwe. Ethnic Koreans in the former USSR prefer the form Tsoi (Tsoy) especially as a transcription of the Cyrillic Цой.

Choi
Pronunciation[tɕʰwe] or [tɕʰø]
Language(s)Korean
Origin
MeaningBest, Top, Most, Pinnacle
Region of originKorea
Other names
Alternative spellingCh'oe, Tsoi, Chye, Chwe, Chey
Variant form(s)Cui, Thôi
Choi
Hangul
최
Hanja
Revised RomanizationChoe
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe
54% of Korean people bear the family name Kim, Lee, Park, Choi, Jeong, or variants thereof.
  Kim, Gim
  Lee, Yi, Rhee
  Park, Pak
  Choi
  Jung, Jeong, Chung, Cheong

Origin edit

  • According to Samguk Sagi, the Gyeongju clan originates from chief Sobeoldori (소벌도리, 蘇伐都利) of Goheochon (고허촌, 高墟村), one of six villages that united to found Silla; The Gyeongju clan traces their origin back to Choi Chiwon (857–10th century), a noted Korean scholar, philosopher, and poet of the late Unified Silla period (668–935).
  • One theory of origin suggests that Haeju clan's progenitor Ch'oe Ch'ung (984–1068) was given the surname 崔 during the reign of Goryeo king Mokjong.
  • The progenitor of the Chungju clan is General Choi Seung (최승, 崔陞), also known as Choi Woo (최우, 崔偶), of Silla (known as Cui Sheng in the Tang dynasty)
  • The progenitor of the Nangju clan is Choi Heun (최흔, 崔昕) of Silla who was a native of Yeongam (Nangju) of the southern Jeolla region.
  • Choi Ri (최리, 崔理), who was known as the leader of the Kingdom of Nakrang

Clans edit

There are roughly 160 clans of Chois.[citation needed] Most of these are quite small. However, Choi is the 4th most common surname in Korea. The largest by far is the Gyeongju Choi clan, with a 2000 South Korean population of 976,820. The Gyeongju Choe claim the Silla scholar Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn as their founder.[2]

 
Haeju Choi clan family seal

Etymology and Pronunciation edit

Choi is written with the Hanja character 崔, meaning "a governor who oversees the land and the mountain".

In Korean, 최 is usually pronounced [tɕʰwe] "Chwe" or “Chey” except by some older speakers who pronounce it [tɕʰø] (this vowel sound is similar to the German ö [ø]). In English, it is most often pronounced /ˈtʃɔɪ/ "Choy", which sounds clearly different to its proper pronunciation but some go by “Chey”.

Prominent people of the past edit

Prominent people today edit

General edit

Politicians edit

Arts edit

General edit

Actors and actresses edit

Musicians edit

  • Choi Bo-min (born 2000), South Korean actor and singer
  • Dasuri Choi (born 1988), South Korean dancer and entertainer
  • David Choi (born 1986), American musician
  • Seven (born Choi Dong-wook, 1984), South Korean singer
  • G.NA (born Gina Jane Choi, 1987), Korean-Canadian singer and actress
  • Wheesung (born Choi Hwee-sung, 1982), South Korean singer
  • Hyojung (born Choi Hyo-jung, 1994), South Korean singer
  • Choi Hyun-suk (born 1999), South Korean rapper
  • Jennifer Choi, Korean-American violinist
  • Jenny Choi, American singer and cellist
  • Lia (born Choi Ji-su, 2000), South Korean singer
  • Sulli (born Choi Jin-ri, 1994–2019), South Korean singer and actress
  • Choi Jong-hoon (born 1990), South Korean musician
  • Changjo (born Choi Jong-hyun, 1995), South Korean singer
  • Zelo (born Choi Jun-hong, 1996), South Korean singer
  • Choi Jung-in (born 1980), South Korean singer
  • Choi Jung-won (born 1981), South Korean singer
  • Ren (born Choi Min-gi, 1995), South Korean actor and singer
  • Choi Min-ho (born 1991), South Korean rapper and singer
  • Choi Min-hwan (born 1992), South Korean singer and drummer
  • S.Coups (born Choi Seung-cheol, 1995), South Korean singer
  • T.O.P (born Choi Seung-hyun, 1987), South Korean rapper and actor
  • Choi Si-won (born 1986), South Korean singer and actor
  • Choi Soo-young (born 1990), South Korean singer and actress
  • Bada (born Choi Sung-hee, 1980), South Korean singer and musical theatre actress
  • Choi Sung-min (born 1995), South Korean singer
  • Choi Ye-na (born 1999), South Korean singer
  • Arin (born Choi Ye-won, 1999), South Korean singer
  • Choi Yoo-jung (born 1999), South Korean singer
  • Choi Young-jae (born 1996), South Korean singer and actor
  • Choi Yu-jin (born 1996), South Korean singer and actress
  • Yuju (born Choi Yu-na, 1997), South Korean singer
  • Cui Jian (born 1961), Chinese singer-songwriter and musician
  • Viktor Tsoi (1962–1990), Soviet singer-songwriter and actor
  • Anita Tsoy (born 1971), Russian singer-songwriter

Sports edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "2015년 인구주택총조사 전수집계결과 보도자료" [Results of the 2015 Census of Population and Housing survey]. Korean Statistical Information Service. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 최 崔 [Choe] (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-09-18.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ 최세진 崔世珍 [Choe Se-jin] (in Korean). Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 2009-09-18.[permanent dead link]

External links edit

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