Zheng
A common Chinese surname with several possible characters and meanings, including the idea of order, correctness, or an ancient state name.
The #1,409 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 12,231 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Zheng is a Chinese surname most often written 鄭 in traditional characters and 郑 in simplified Chinese. The name originally came from the ancient state of Zheng, and in that sense it is a place-based surname tied to Chinese history. Depending on the character used and the family line, it can also be associated with ideas such as correctness or proper order.
History
The surname is one of the better-known Chinese family names and has been carried by many historical figures in China and in overseas Chinese communities. In modern English-language contexts it is commonly romanized as Zheng under Hanyu Pinyin. Older romanizations and dialect spellings can vary widely, which is why the same surname may appear in different forms in records.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In some genealogical records, Zheng may appear under very different spellings because the same Chinese surname can be romanized through different dialects and systems.