Kang
A common Korean surname, also found in other communities in East and South Asia, with several unrelated historical origins.
The #1,084 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 9,582 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Kang is best known as a Korean family name, written 강 in Korean and often romanized Kang. In Korean usage it can represent different hanja, so the name does not have a single literal meaning; the most common association is with the clan-based surname tradition of Korea. The same spelling also appears in Chinese romanization systems for several different surnames and given-name elements, so the English form can cover more than one origin.
History
In the United States, Kang is strongly associated with Korean immigration in the late 20th century and after, which is why it is relatively common despite its short length. The same spelling can also reflect Chinese, and less often other East and South Asian, naming traditions. Because the spelling is shared across languages, family histories need to be checked case by case.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In Korean romanization, Kang is a long-established alternative spelling of the surname now officially standardized as Gang in South Korea's revised Romanization system.
From the historical record
“Ant. X'orni. v. 174j. Kang-le, or Da Angulo. See AyoDLL. Napier, X'appator, or Xapparius, "William Xappator, Eugl. 119S (KCl;) ; William le Xapor 1189”
— The Norman People and their existing descendants in the British dominions and the United States