Choi (Korean surname)


[Image:Distribution of South Korean family names.svg|thumb|right|Percentage of family names in South Korea
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Choi 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. In English-speaking countries, it is most often anglicized as Choi, and sometimes also Chey, Choe or Chwe. Ethnic Koreans in the former USSR generally prefer the forms Tsoi or Tsoy, especially as a transcription of the Cyrillic Цой.

Origin

Clans

There are roughly 160 clans of Chois. 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 Choi claim the Silla scholar Ch'oe Ch'iwŏn as their founder.

Etymology and Pronunciation

Choi is written with the Hanja character wikt:崔, meaning "a governor who oversees the land and the mountain".
In Korean, 최 is usually pronounced "Chwe" or “Chey” except by some older speakers who pronounce it . In Spanish, it is most often pronounced "Choy", which sounds clearly different to its proper pronunciation but some go by “Chey”.

Prominent people of the past

Prominent people today

General

Politicians

Arts

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Actors and actresses

Musicians

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