Kang (Korean surname)


Kang is a Korean family name. All together, the holders of this name number are 1,176,847 in South Korea, according to the 2015 national census, ranking 6th largest Korean family name. While the name "Kang" can actually represent 5 different hanja, or Chinese characters, the great majority bear the surname 姜. The Chinese surname Jiāng also shares the same 姜 character.

Clans

Clans whose surname uses the Hanja character 姜 include the clans of Jinju and Geumcheon seat. The majority belong to the Jinju Kang clan is said to be descended from Goguryeo commander Kang I-sik. The Geumcheon Kang clan is descended from an ancestor whose ancestral seat was Geumcheon, now part of Seoul.
Clans whose surname uses the Hanja character 康 include Sincheon and Yeonggang. The Sincheon Kang clan is further subdivided into Goksan and Jaeryeong.

Notable individuals

Historic

Modern