Tan (surname)
Tan is a common Chinese surname 譚. It is the 56th most commonly borne surname in China.
Origin
Two origins have been suggested for the Tan surname:- The surname came from the ancient State of Tan which was located in the western part of what is now Shandong Province. During the Spring and Autumn period, this state was conquered by the neighbouring State of Qi. The court changed their surname to Tan in remembrance of their defeated homeland, and later prospered in Hunan Province.
- The surname came from the less common surname 談, another with the same pronunciation in Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese. In order to avoid the revenge of their enemies, the clan leaders changed it to 譚.
Romanisation and pronunciation
Tan is the Chinese character's Hanyu Pinyin romanisation in Mandarin Chinese. It is pronounced and romanised differently in different languages and dialects.- In Cantonese Chinese, it is romanised as Taam4 in Jyutping and Tàahm in Cantonese Yale. It is romanised as Tam in Hong Kong and Macau.
- In Toisanese Chinese, it may be romanised as Thom, Hom, Ham or Hum.
- In Hokkien Chinese, Teochew Chinese and Hainanese Chinese, it is romanised as Thâm in POJ.
- In Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, it is sometimes romanised as Tham.
- In Filipino and other Philippine languages, it is romanised as Tam.
- In Japan, it may be romanised as Tan.
Prominent people
Tam
- Adrian Tam,, American politician representing Waikiki and Ala Moana
- Alan Tam,, Hong Kong singer and actor
- Jeremy Tam Man Ho, Hong Kong politician
- Tam Kung,, Chinese folk hero who was reputed to be able to forecast the weather
- Patrick Tam Kar Ming, Hong Kong film director and editor
- Patrick Tam Yiu Man, Hong Kong actor and singer
- Roman Tam, Hong Kong singer
- Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
- Vivienne Tam, Hong Kong fashion designer
- Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong politician
Tham
- Avvir Tham Pac Lun, Singaporean diver who became the first Singaporean man in 60 years to win a SEA Games diving gold medal and competed for Singapore at the 2022 Asian Games.
Tan
- Amy Tan, American writer
- Lewis Tan, English actor
- Meryem Tan, Turkish wheelchair basketball player
- Tan Dun, Chinese composer and pianist
- Tan Jing, Chinese singer, philanthropist and congresswoman
- Karen Tan Puay Kiow, Singaporean army officer
- Melinda Tan, British academic
- Milagrosa Tan, Filipina politician
- Shaun Tan, Australian author and illustrator
- Tan Sitong, Chinese politician
- Tan Songyun, Chinese actress
- Tan Sui Hoon, Malaysian badminton player
- Tan Yankai Chinese politician and Premier of the Republic of China.
- Yuanyuan Tan, Chinese ballet dancer; Principal Dancer at the San Francisco Ballet
- Tan Yuanchun, Chinese scholar
- Tan Zhenlin, Chinese politician
- Tan Zhonglin Qing dynasty scholar-official. Governor and viceroy of Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces.
- Tan Zhongyi, Chinese chess grandmaster
- Kirsten Danielle Tan Delavin, Filipino former actress and model
Tom
- Kiana Tom,, American television host
- Lauren Tom,, American actress
Hom
- Tom Hom, American politician
- Ken Hom, American chef
- Sharon Hom, Hong Kong-born American human rights law professor
- Alice Y. Hom, American LGBTQ community activist