Choi Surname

1,210th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 439,579 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
North Korea
Highest density in:
Macau

Choi Surname User-submission:

Chai is a Chinese surname that derives from the name of the ancient Cai state. It is regionally more common in China's Fujian Province and in areas settled by ethnic Chinese from that province than in China as a whole. The surname is the 34th most common surname in China, but the 9th most common in Taiwan, where it is usually romanized as Tsai based on Wade-Giles romanization of Standard Mandarin and the 8th most common in Singapore, where it is usually romanized as Chua, which is based on Hokkien pronunciation.

Read More About This Surname

Choi Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
North Korea213,1491:11825
Hong Kong77,6571:9426
United States58,2801:6,219719
South Korea18,7951:2,72676
Macau12,3471:495
Canada8,9371:4,123548
Thailand7,4771:9,447514
Singapore7,2291:762123
Malaysia4,5151:6,532822
Vietnam4,3391:21,352389
Cambodia4,2371:3,655615
Australia3,6671:7,3621,083
Myanmar2,2311:23,280441
England1,5621:35,6714,696
China1,2721:1,074,938300
Japan1,1681:109,4566,374
Brazil1,1151:191,9957,409
New Zealand1,0871:4,166656
Germany9701:82,99510,481
United Arab Emirates8581:10,6791,336
Brunei6681:627114
Philippines6001:168,73027,522
France5981:111,07516,600
Indonesia5811:227,62321,160
Kenya5521:83,6597,685
Netherlands3681:45,8897,807
Bangladesh3601:442,65811,259
Dominican Republic3241:32,2001,866
Spain2781:168,17312,079
Ghana2771:97,5489,187
Mongolia2451:11,5321,583
Egypt2441:376,78623,402
Morocco2041:169,00029,345
Saudi Arabia1991:155,05422,057
Ecuador1841:86,4455,849
Swaziland1771:7,334424
Russia1581:912,17172,266
Kuwait1541:24,6803,145
Belgium1501:76,64412,128
Qatar1501:15,7201,709
Uzbekistan1361:227,4207,703
Argentina1341:318,98125,304
Chile1091:161,6195,406
Guam1071:1,496210
Taiwan1021:229,8501,944
Micronesia1001:1,062227
India821:9,354,456185,501
Sweden821:120,0828,566
Paraguay811:89,3432,161
Italy761:804,69363,729
Switzerland761:108,06511,329
Kazakhstan701:252,60722,189
Wales621:49,9124,670
Bahrain591:22,8584,582
Ireland521:90,5575,084
Afghanistan521:618,3307,160
Scotland521:102,9586,964
Austria491:173,78422,520
Mexico481:2,585,96321,318
Norway411:125,42216,333
South Africa411:1,321,40772,211
Papua New Guinea371:220,37130,351
Panama341:115,0664,183
Ukraine341:1,338,903111,766
Jamaica311:92,5794,005
Northern Mariana Islands281:1,949228
Suriname261:21,2544,689
Denmark251:225,78917,947
American Samoa191:2,935631
Venezuela191:1,589,68820,788
Gambia161:120,216304
Finland151:366,44725,366
Pakistan141:12,760,27855,960
Peru141:2,270,29426,427
Northern Ireland131:141,9267,751
Hungary131:755,09840,181
Poland131:2,923,750116,258
Guatemala121:1,340,2225,550
Belarus101:950,10668,851
Oman101:368,7975,193
Uganda101:3,903,92893,934
Angola91:2,998,8024,903
Laos91:732,036508
Sudan91:4,167,7995,799
Tunisia91:67,8478,246
Algeria81:4,828,94449,535
Estonia81:165,22626,217
Costa Rica71:682,8675,051
Czechia71:1,519,06797,842
Nigeria71:25,306,108327,793
Turkey71:11,117,346139,182
Yemen71:3,775,04217,439
Honduras51:1,763,2885,823
Senegal51:2,915,8685,479
Jordan41:2,210,60920,372
Libya41:1,560,9943,087
Malta41:107,5681,849
Portugal41:2,604,56016,079
Tonga41:26,828461
Haiti31:3,561,30220,668
Kyrgyzstan31:1,990,88579,765
Monaco31:12,3552,088
Nepal31:9,493,65216,132
Tanzania31:17,647,204107,932
United States Virgin Islands31:36,7924,502
Albania21:1,457,02824,967
Andorra21:41,9191,654
Bahamas21:195,8761,708
Belize21:177,7373,502
Bhutan21:308,0201,264
Bolivia21:5,308,21712,400
Bulgaria21:3,489,45264,958
Cameroon21:10,384,534165,830
Colombia21:23,887,03632,612
El Salvador21:3,171,9446,376
Georgia21:1,872,77235,618
Iceland21:190,0456,825
Israel21:4,278,817136,311
Lebanon21:2,818,54225,087
Luxembourg21:290,2718,611
Maldives21:202,0864,973
Romania21:10,038,93580,612
Serbia21:3,572,47432,645
Slovakia21:2,668,225118,680
Armenia11:2,930,18022,770
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Barbados11:287,4482,772
Cayman Islands11:63,8932,384
Cuba11:11,522,71617,380
East Timor11:1,215,928507
Ethiopia11:97,546,26229,669
French Polynesia11:280,8057,211
Greece11:11,079,790145,225
Iran11:76,782,524277,718
Iraq11:35,021,65431,813
Isle of Man11:85,8224,091
Ivory Coast11:23,071,23276,679
Latvia11:2,050,04660,295
Lesotho11:2,032,55823,402
Liberia11:4,408,53547,110
Lithuania11:3,034,58847,401
Madagascar11:23,649,8379,420
Malawi11:17,119,10934,144
Mauritius11:1,293,41716,552
Moldova11:3,561,36878,271
Mozambique11:27,261,5697,432
New Caledonia11:276,22310,363
Niger11:19,192,017110,060
Puerto Rico11:3,550,1399,109
Rwanda11:11,364,9785,947
Saint Pierre and Miquelon11:6,399357
Samoa11:193,8081,089
São Tomé and Príncipe11:177,4233,686
Seychelles11:92,3931,532
Sierra Leone11:7,089,6311,533
Slovenia11:2,487,67531,128
Solomon Islands11:580,02922,243
South Sudan11:11,415,0763,182
Sri Lanka11:20,808,56018,521
Tajikistan11:8,386,69212,859
Uruguay11:3,431,75838,295
Vanuatu11:263,2762,086
Zimbabwe11:15,438,240133,260
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England21:12,187,685173,419
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States131:3,862,976168,604

The alternate forms: Choï (5) & Chơi (1) are calculated separately.

Choi (99,218) may also be a first name.

Choi Surname Meaning

User-submitted Reference

Chai is a Chinese surname that derives from the name of the ancient Cai state. It is regionally more common in China's Fujian Province and in areas settled by ethnic Chinese from that province than in China as a whole. The surname is the 34th most common surname in China, but the 9th most common in Taiwan, where it is usually romanized as Tsai based on Wade-Giles romanization of Standard Mandarin and the 8th most common in Singapore, where it is usually romanized as Chua, which is based on Hokkien pronunciation. It is also a common Cantonese name in Hong Kong where it is romanized as Choy, Choi or Tsoi, in Macao and Malaysia, it's spelled as Choi, in Malaysia and the Philippines as Chua, in Thailand as Chuo (ฉั่ว). Moreover, it is also romanized in Cambodia as either Chhay, Chhuor or Chhor among Chinese Cambodians.

- thagman51

A Korean surname, coming the Korean word, , which means 'best' and is more generally used as a superlative. It is commonly translated as "Choi", notably in English and in official events requiring romanisation of surnames. According to historical sources, the Choi most important clan, Gyeongju clan, dates back to the beginning of the Silla (57BC - 935 AD) with chief Sobeoldori (소벌도리, 蘇伐都利) of Goheochon (고허촌, 高墟村).

- choi

This surname comes from a Chinese character of several meanings, one of which is 'wild grass', another is a name of a state in ancient China.

- ytfrank

Choi Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Choi Come From? nationality or country of origin

The last name Choi (Hindi: चोई, Russian: Чои, Tibetan: ཆོས་) has its highest incidence in North Korea. It can also appear in the variant forms: Choï or Chơi. For other potential spellings of this last name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Choi? popularity and diffusion

The surname Choi is the 1,210th most commonly used surname throughout the world. It is borne by around 1 in 16,578 people. It is predominantly found in Asia, where 82 percent of Choi reside; 74 percent reside in East Asia and 53 percent reside in Koreanic Asia. Choi is also the 10,269th most prevalent first name on earth, borne by 99,218 people.

The surname Choi is most frequent in North Korea, where it is borne by 213,149 people, or 1 in 118. Other than North Korea it occurs in 162 countries. It also occurs in Hong Kong, where 18 percent reside and The United States, where 13 percent reside.

Choi Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The incidence of Choi has changed through the years. In The United States the share of the population with the last name expanded 448,308 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in England it expanded 78,100 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Choi Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those holding the surname is chiefly Orthodox (40%) in Russia and Christian (100%) in Kenya.

In The United States Choi are 0.42% more likely to be registered with the Democratic Party than the national average, with 53.65% being registered with the political party.

The amount Choi earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 9.6% more than the national average, earning 379,302 kr per year; in Peru they earn 477.52% more than the national average, earning S/. 111,953 per year; in South Africa they earn 87.65% more than the national average, earning R 445,932 per year; in Colombia they earn 75.53% more than the national average, earning $39,849,700 COP per year; in United States they earn 19.67% more than the national average, earning $51,637 USD per year and in Canada they earn 19.55% more than the national average, earning $59,395 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Choï925/
Chơi921/
Choji899,684/
Chois89346/
Choyi89123/
Choij8993/
Choie8968/
Tchoi8948/
Choit8945/
Chhoi8934/
Choia8930/
Choio8923/
Choid8920/
Schoi8916/
Choih898/
Choiy894/
Choip891/
Choiz891/
Hchoi891/
Dchoi891/
Chsoi891/
Choii891/
Xchoi891/
Cho862,119,473/
Chi861,098,244/
Hoi8617,798/
Coi864,192/
Chouia803,160/
Choitz80280/
Tchoyi80181/
Choiat80148/
Chuoji8089/
Chooji8050/
Schoii8026/
Tchoia8025/
Choije8017/
Choich8016/
Chouji809/
Choiyo809/
Choyyi808/
Chhoii808/
Choith806/
Choiha805/
Schoiz804/
Chioyi804/
Tschoi803/
Chowie803/
Schoid802/
Choggi802/
Chohiy802/
Chioji802/
Chioia802/
Chouio802/
Chojio802/
Choicz801/
Chhoyi801/
Chojis801/
Choiet801/
Chyoji801/
Tchoio801/
Choihi801/
Choish800/
Schoit800/
Choe754,012,121/
Chai751,025,020/
Chou75494,067/
Chit7573,921/
Choy7563,580/
Choo7550,835/
Chui7549,650/
Chot7520,447/
Chis7510,820/
Chio7510,213/
Khoi759,337/
Choj755,297/
Chop754,088/
Chuo753,764/
Chie753,212/
Coia752,719/
Chih752,490/
Choa752,349/
Choh752,186/
Hoyi752,102/
Chiş751,419/
Chod751,319/
Chiș751,123/
Chip751,030/
Hois75944/
Chij75927/
Chii75902/
Chos75716/
Tchi75713/
Hoit75637/
Hoji75585/
Choz75551/
Chyi75455/
Chyo75419/
Chei75352/
Scho75331/
Chiz75331/
Hoid75320/
Tcho75310/
Chiy75246/
Shoi75243/
Hoia75213/
Hoiß75198/
Hoie75163/
Chho75124/
Coie75119/
Hoih7594/
Coji7593/
Hoio7589/
Chid7586/
Chhi7577/
Coio7543/
Schi7540/
Chgo7538/
Hoij7526/
Hoii7522/
Xhoi7514/
Hoiz757/
Chsi756/
Csoi756/
Xchi755/
Zhoi754/
Chão754/
Choć754/
Chci753/
Coij753/
Hchi753/
Hoip753/
Chgi753/
Hoiy752/
Tcoi752/
Zchi752/
Dchi752/
Hcoi751/
Hjoi751/
Hhoi751/
Dcho751/
Choĺ751/
Csho751/
Xcho751/
Czoi751/
Chouiet73264/
Chongio7367/
Chhoije7314/
Chooied7310/
Chouiah736/
Chooiad736/
Chiojio735/
Chuoiad734/
Chouieh733/
Tchouji732/
Uamchoi732/
Choihed732/
Choojid732/
Chougie731/
Choujih731/
Chhoiyi731/
Tschoii731/
Chouiat731/
Chiohii731/
Choihet731/
Tchojip731/
Tchouie731/
Chowieh731/
Tschoji731/
Schoidt731/
Chiohyi731/
Schoitz730/
Ho671,909,912/
Ci67157,992/
Shoji67116,963/
Co6756,920/
Hi6728,693/
Cowie6717,435/
Howie6716,832/
Cheyo6715,449/
Chujo679,645/
Khoji678,504/
Chiya677,073/
Schou675,481/
Choya675,425/
Chuot675,223/
Chaiy674,785/
Chiyo674,341/
Chich673,222/
Chaji673,102/
Tchio673,095/
Chait672,873/
Schoo672,431/
Chowe672,320/
Chott672,175/
Schei671,734/
Chaia671,727/
Chaid671,641/
Chopp671,603/
Choux671,595/
Schio671,517/
Chija671,468/
Khoyi671,463/
Tchou671,373/
Choud671,291/
Choyo671,216/
Chayi671,159/
Tchei671,126/
Chhih671,062/
Schie671,032/
Houij67928/
Chipp67878/
Chhoa67752/
Chouh67735/
Chiyi67730/
Chieh67702/
Cheyi67652/
Chije67634/
Chish67593/
Chayo67574/
Chijo67481/
Choch67464/
Chajo67450/
Shoip67447/
Hogie67437/
Chejo67437/
Chuyo67429/
Tchie67421/
Chiji67403/
Choup67374/
Schoe67367/
Schai67354/
Tchai67332/
Choja67325/
Chuji67317/
Hoitt67314/
Chais67289/
Chojo67289/
Chuit67280/
Hoyhi67268/
Chiea67265/
Chaai67252/
Tchos67240/
Chout67235/
Schoy67230/
Chaij67219/
Schoß67219/
Tchui67208/
Hoitz67189/
Chous67184/
Hooie67176/
Chihe67176/
Cheia67173/
Schiz67169/
Cheij67164/
Coyyi67163/
Chuyi67163/
Houia67158/
Chaio67157/
Houji67155/
Chiss67152/
Chhit67144/
Chaiu67136/
Chitt67135/
Tshoi67133/
Chuiz67133/
Chhoy67132/
Chuop67131/
Chaip67126/
Chohu67112/
Hooji67111/
Khoie67109/
Shoid67108/
Chhai67107/
Chaie67107/
Choye6799/
Cheis6796/
Chouy6796/
Shoyi6796/
Dzhoi6796/
Cheio6794/
Schoj6788/
Schoh6784/
Choot6782/
Schui6780/
Hoiss6774/
Chiye6771/
Chhod6770/
Chist6770/
Hohyi6765/
Chișe6762/
Chhot6758/
Shoia6757/
Chooe6753/
Hooij6752/
Chhou6751/
Cuoio6750/
Chuis6747/
Choos6746/
Choje6746/
Choss6745/
Chaih6743/
Tchoy6743/
Choue6741/
Couie6736/
Hoich6736/
Tchop6736/
Houie6735/
Tschi6733/
Hohii6731/
Schid6726/
Cheid6726/
Chosh6725/
Cheit6725/
Chchi6724/
Chaiz6723/
Chioa6723/
Chuie6721/
Chaii6721/
Choop6719/
Chuia6719/
Chouj6719/
Cehyo6719/
Schoihet6718/
Chooy6717/
Tchoe6716/
Shoie6716/
Hoist6715/
Chodh6715/
Khoia6714/
Cheji6714/
Hoisz6714/
Houyi6714/
Tchuo6714/
Chuoa6713/
Chuih6713/
Chots6712/
Chuoy6711/
Khoii6711/
Chost6710/
Hoiho6710/
Chouň6710/
Tchii679/
Schoa679/
Chiia679/
Khoij678/
Chhuo678/
Cheih678/
Chiey678/
Chuoe678/
Tchip678/
Hoias678/
Chisp677/
Choyt677/
Coyie677/
Hoidz677/
Cheiu677/
Chhip676/
Cuhyi676/
Tchoo676/
Cooji676/
Chgou676/
Chizz675/
Chhui675/
Chosz675/
Choys675/
Huoyi675/
Hoggi675/
Cshih675/
Schii675/
Chișș675/
Chooj675/
Chioy675/
Chooa675/
Cheiz675/
Hoyyi674/
Shoii674/
Shoit674/
Hoicz674/
Cheie674/
Chouz674/
Cuoji674/
Dtcho674/
Hoyis673/
Zchuo673/
Chidd673/
Hoiis673/
Chuip673/
Schij673/
Schoz673/
Czchi673/
Shcho673/
Chiej673/
Choph673/
Schiy672/
Schyo672/
Zchou672/
Cschi672/
Hoidt672/
Chodd672/
Chood672/
Cahii672/
Chods672/
Cheip672/
Chhei672/
Hojij672/
Cohio672/
Chsio672/
Chuiy672/
Chuos672/
Schis672/
Hoios672/
Chisz672/
Chohd672/
Tchid672/
Hohia672/
Hoiau672/
Houio672/
Tchot672/
Xhoyi672/
Chojj672/
Choyd671/
Chozz671/
Cheuo671/
Chhid671/
Chhos671/
Htchi671/
Hoyit671/
Hooio671/
Hohji671/
Hoiat671/
Hoied671/
Hoiha671/
Hoiiy671/
Hoiyt671/
Coijj671/
Cioia671/
Dchoy671/
Tchij671/
Hoish671/
Hoiet671/
Cehia671/
Stchi671/
Coiee671/
Ûchoa671/
Huoia671/
Hohio671/
Jschi671/
Zchai671/
Shoih671/
Schih671/
Tchoï671/
Tchih671/
Tchis671/
Tscho671/
Czhou671/
D'Cho671/
Choyé671/
Chüji671/
Chuid671/
Chuij671/
Cihio671/
Cooyi671/
Chidt671/
Cheić671/
Chocz671/
Choyz671/
Chohy671/
Hoyid671/
Hoihs671/
Cohiy671/
Dchai671/
Shoio671/
Shoiz671/
Chyio671/
Chuio671/
Chsei671/
Chsui671/
Chihs671/
Choojitt671/
Chohs671/
Chojy671/
Dchoihjj671/
Huoji671/
Hxoji671/
Hojgi671/
Cooie670/
Cayho670/
Chodt670/
Chsoy670/

Choi Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Choi in the Hindi language
चोईco'i-
Choi in the Tibetan language
ཆོས་chö77.78
ཆོའི་chö11.11
ཆེས་ché11.11
Choi in the Russian language
Чоиcoi-

Search for Another Surname

Choi Reference & Research

Choi DNA Website - A web page dedicated to the genetic research of those who bear the surname and its variants.

Choi FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Choi
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis