Malaysian Last Names

These Malaysian last names reflect several naming systems at once: Malay patronymics, Chinese clan names, Indian and Sikh names, and the names of Iban, Kadazan and Eurasian families. Each is listed A to Z with its meaning and background.

183 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

Abang

Hereditary Sarawak Malay title; elder brother

Malay
Abdullah

Servant of God; also used after bin/binti for converts

Malay
Abu Bakar

Name of the first caliph; Malay patronymic

Malay
Ahmad

Most praised; used as a father's name after bin/binti

Malay
Ali

Exalted; common Malay patronymic

Malay
Ang 洪

Hokkien form of Hong, flood

Chinese
Ariffin

Knowledgeable; wise; Malay patronymic

Malay
Arumugam

Six-faced one, Lord Murugan

Indian
Au 区

Cantonese form of Ou, district

Chinese
Awang

Young man; Malay title and patronymic

Malay
Aziz

Mighty; beloved; Malay patronymic

Malay

C

Chai 蔡

Hakka form of Cai

Chinese
Chan 陈

Cantonese form of Chen, ancient state of Chen

Chinese
Cheah 谢

Hokkien form of Xie, to thank

Chinese
Chelliah

Beloved one; Tamil patronymic

Indian
Cheong 张

Cantonese form of Zhang

Chinese
Chew 周

Hokkien form of Zhou, circuit or Zhou dynasty

Chinese
Chia 谢

Teochew form of Xie, to thank

Chinese
Chin 陈

Hakka form of Chen, ancient state of Chen

Chinese
Chong 张

Hakka form of Zhang, archer

Chinese
Choong 钟

Hakka form of Zhong, bell

Chinese
Chow 周

Cantonese form of Zhou

Chinese
Choy 蔡

Cantonese form of Cai

Chinese
Chua 蔡

Hokkien form of Cai, ancient state of Cai

Chinese
Chuah 蔡

Penang Hokkien form of Cai

Chinese
Chung 钟

Form of Zhong, bell

Chinese
De Costa

Portuguese-Eurasian name of Melaka, of the coast or hillside

Kristang

D

Daud

David; Malay patronymic

Malay
Dompok

Kadazan-Dusun family name from Sabah

Kadazan

E

Embas

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban
Embong

Traditional Malay name from Terengganu

Malay
Ewon

Kadazan-Dusun family name from Sabah

Kadazan

F

Fernandes

Portuguese-Eurasian name of Melaka, son of Fernando

Kristang
Fong 冯

Cantonese form of Feng, gallop

Chinese
Foo 符

Hainanese form of Fu, tally or token

Chinese

G

Gan 颜

Hokkien form of Yan, face or countenance

Chinese
Gill

Punjabi Jat clan found among Malaysian Sikhs

Indian
Goh 吴

Hokkien form of Wu, ancient state of Wu

Chinese
Govindasamy

Lord Govinda (Krishna); Tamil patronymic

Indian

H

Hamid

Praiseworthy; Malay patronymic

Malay
Hamzah

Strong; steadfast; Malay patronymic

Malay
Harun

Aaron; Malay patronymic

Malay
Hashim

Crusher of bread; name of the Prophet's ancestor

Malay
Hassan

Good; handsome; common Malay patronymic

Malay
Heng 王

Teochew form of Wang, king

Chinese
Hii 许

Foochow form of Xu, common in Sibu

Chinese
Ho 何

Cantonese form of He, what or carry

Chinese
Hussein

Little handsome one; common Malay patronymic

Malay

I

Ibrahim

Abraham; used as a father's name after bin/binti

Malay
Idris

Name of a prophet; Malay patronymic

Malay
Ismail

God hears; used as a father's name after bin/binti

Malay

J

Jaafar

Stream; Malay spelling of Jafar

Malay
Jabu

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban
Jawan

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban
Jugah

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban

K

Kandasamy

Lord Skanda, Murugan

Indian
Kang 江

Form of Jiang, river

Chinese
Karuppiah

Karuppan, Tamil guardian deity

Indian
Kassim

Distributor; Malay spelling of Qasim

Malay
Khoo 邱

Hokkien form of Qiu, hill

Chinese
Khor 许

Penang Hokkien form of Xu

Chinese
Kitingan

Kadazan-Dusun family name from Sabah

Kadazan
Koh 许

Hokkien form of Xu, to promise

Chinese
Kok 郭

Form of Guo, outer city wall

Chinese
Krishnan

Of Krishna; Tamil patronymic

Indian

L

Lai 赖

Rely on; from the ancient state of Lai

Chinese
Lam 林

Cantonese form of Lin, forest

Chinese
Lasimbang

Kadazan-Dusun family name from Sabah

Kadazan
Latif

Gentle; kind; Malay patronymic

Malay
Lau 刘

Cantonese form of Liu

Chinese
Lazaroo

Kristang form of Lázaro, Lazarus, God has helped

Kristang
Lee 李

Plum tree; one of the commonest Chinese surnames

Chinese
Leong 梁

Cantonese form of Liang, bridge or beam

Chinese
Leow 廖

Form of Liao

Chinese
Letchumanan

Tamil form of Lakshmana, Rama's brother

Indian
Liew 刘

Hakka form of Liu

Chinese
Lim 林

Hokkien form of Lin, forest

Chinese
Ling 林

Foochow form of Lin, common in Sarawak

Chinese
Linggi

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban
Loke 陆

Cantonese form of Lu, land

Chinese
Low 刘

Hokkien form of Liu, to kill or battle-axe

Chinese
Lum 林

Cantonese form of Lin, forest

Chinese

M

Mah 马

Form of Ma, horse

Chinese
Mahmud

Praised; Malay patronymic

Malay
Mak 麦

Cantonese form of Mai, wheat

Chinese
Maniam

Jewel; short for Subramaniam

Indian
Mansor

Victorious; Malay spelling of Mansur

Malay
Masing

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban
Mat

Malay short form of Muhammad

Malay
Mawan

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban
Megat

Hereditary Malay title from a noble father

Malay
Menon

Honorific title of Malayali Nair families

Indian
Mohamed

Praised one; used as a father's name after bin/binti

Malay
Mojuntin

Kadazan-Dusun family name from Sabah

Kadazan
Mok 莫

Cantonese form of Mo, do not

Chinese
Mokhtar

Chosen; Malay spelling of Mukhtar

Malay
Muhammad

Praised one; the Prophet's name, used patronymically

Malay
Munan

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban
Muniandy

Muniandi, Tamil village guardian deity

Indian
Murugan

Tamil god of war; beautiful one

Indian
Musa

Moses; Malay patronymic

Malay
Muthu

Pearl; Tamil patronymic

Indian

N

Nadarajah

King of dance, Shiva

Indian
Naidu

Leader; Telugu community title

Indian
Nair

Possibly from nayaka, leader; Malayali community name

Indian
Nasir

Helper; supporter; Malay patronymic

Malay
Ng 黄

Hokkien Huang, yellow; also Cantonese Wu

Chinese
Nik

Hereditary Malay title of Kelantan

Malay
Ningkan

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban
Nordin

Light of the faith, from Nur al-Din

Malay

O

Omar

Long-lived; common Malay patronymic

Malay
Ong 王

Hokkien form of Wang, king

Chinese
Ongkili

Kadazan-Dusun family name from Sabah

Kadazan
Ooi 黄

Penang Hokkien form of Huang, yellow

Chinese
Osman

Variant of Othman; Malay patronymic

Malay
Othman

Name of the third caliph; Malay patronymic

Malay

P

Palanisamy

Lord of Palani, Murugan

Indian
Perumal

Great one; Tamil name of Vishnu

Indian
Phang 彭

Hakka form of Peng, drum sound

Chinese
Pillai

Child; Tamil and Malayali honorific title

Indian
Ponnusamy

Golden lord; Tamil patronymic

Indian

Q

Quek 郭

Hokkien form of Guo, outer city wall

Chinese

R

Rahim

Compassionate; Malay patronymic

Malay
Rahman

Merciful, short for Abdul Rahman

Malay
Raja

King; hereditary Malay royal title

Malay
Rajendran

King of kings; Tamil patronymic

Indian
Ramachandran

Rama the moon-like; Tamil patronymic

Indian
Raman

Pleasing; form of Rama

Indian
Ramasamy

Lord Rama; Tamil patronymic

Indian
Ramli

Malay given name used as a patronymic

Malay
Rashid

Rightly guided; Malay patronymic

Malay
Razak

Provider, short for Abdul Razak

Malay
Rosli

Malay given name used as a patronymic

Malay

S

Salleh

Righteous; Malay spelling of Salih

Malay
Sandin

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban
Saw 苏

Penang Hokkien form of Su, revive

Chinese
Selvaraj

King of wealth; Tamil patronymic

Indian
Sequerah

Kristang form of Portuguese Sequeira, a place name

Kristang
Sidek

Truthful, Malay spelling of Siddiq

Malay
Sim 沈

Hokkien form of Shen, ancient state of Shen

Chinese
Singh

Lion; used by Malaysian Sikhs

Indian
Siow 萧

Form of Xiao, desolate or mugwort

Chinese
Sipaun

Kadazan-Dusun family name from Sabah

Kadazan
Sivalingam

Emblem of Shiva; Tamil patronymic

Indian
Soo 苏

Hokkien form of Su, revive

Chinese
De Souza

Portuguese-Eurasian name of Melaka, from Sousa in northern Portugal

Kristang
Subramaniam

Name of Lord Murugan; Tamil patronymic

Indian
Sulaiman

Solomon; Malay patronymic

Malay
Sundang

Kadazan-Dusun family name from Sabah

Kadazan
Suppiah

Tamil form of Subbiah, Lord Murugan

Indian
Syed

Title for descendants of the Prophet

Malay

T

Tan 陈

Hokkien form of Chen, ancient state of Chen

Chinese
Tang 邓

Cantonese form of Deng, ancient state of Deng

Chinese
Tangau

Kadazan-Dusun family name from Sabah

Kadazan
Tay 郑

Teochew form of Zheng

Chinese
Teh 郑

Hokkien form of Zheng, ancient state of Zheng

Chinese
Tengku

Hereditary Malay royal title; prince

Malay
Teo 张

Teochew form of Zhang

Chinese
Tham 谭

Cantonese form of Tan, deep

Chinese
Theseira

Kristang form of Portuguese Teixeira, place of yew trees

Kristang
Ting 陈

Foochow form of Chen, common in Sarawak

Chinese
Tiong 张

Foochow form of Zhang, common in Sarawak

Chinese
Toh 杜

Hokkien form of Du, pear tree

Chinese
Tong 唐

Form of Tang, Tang dynasty

Chinese

U

Uggah

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)

Iban

V

Veerasamy

Heroic lord; Tamil patronymic

Indian

W

Wan

Hereditary Malay title passed through the father

Malay
Wee 黄

Hokkien form of Huang, yellow

Chinese
Wong 黄

Cantonese form of Huang, yellow

Chinese
Woo 胡

Form of Hu, barbarian or beard

Chinese

Y

Yaacob

Malay spelling of Jacob; common patronymic

Malay
Yahya

John; he lives; Malay patronymic

Malay
Yap 叶

Hakka form of Ye, leaf

Chinese
Yee 余

Cantonese form of Yu, surplus

Chinese
Yeo 杨

Teochew form of Yang, poplar tree

Chinese
Yeoh 杨

Hokkien form of Yang, poplar tree

Chinese
Yew 姚

Form of Yao, handsome

Chinese
Yip 叶

Cantonese form of Ye, leaf

Chinese
Yong 杨

Hakka form of Yang, poplar tree

Chinese
Yunus

Jonah; Malay patronymic

Malay
Yusof

Malay spelling of Joseph; common patronymic

Malay

Z

Zainal

Ornament, short for Zainal Abidin

Malay
Zakaria

God remembers; Malay patronymic

Malay

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Tiong

张

Foochow form of Zhang, common in Sarawak

Chinese
Yahya

John; he lives; Malay patronymic
Yeoh

杨

Hokkien form of Yang, poplar tree

Chinese
Ng

黄

Hokkien Huang, yellow; also Cantonese Wu

Chinese
Mawan

Iban name, often used after anak (child of)
Syed

Title for descendants of the Prophet

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Malaysian last names and the Malay patronymic

Most Malays do not have inherited surnames. Instead, a person's name is followed by bin, meaning son of, or binti, meaning daughter of, and then the father's given name. Ahmad bin Ismail is Ahmad, son of Ismail, and his daughter might be Siti binti Ahmad. Each generation therefore has a different second name. In daily life people are addressed by their own given name, and it is not usual to call someone by their father's name alone.

Some Malay families do carry inherited elements that work much like surnames. Titles such as Tunku, Tengku and Raja mark royal descent, while Syed and Sharifah indicate descent from the family of the Prophet. Wan, Nik and Megat are hereditary titles found in particular states, such as Kelantan and Terengganu. These titles are passed down through the family and often appear on official documents before the given name.

Chinese and Indian naming in Malaysia

Chinese Malaysians have true inherited surnames, written first. Because most families trace their roots to southern China, their names are romanized from Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew or Hainanese rather than Mandarin. That gives spellings such as Tan, Lim, Ng, Ong, Teh, Goh, Khoo, Ooi, Yap, Cheah, Chong and Wong. The same Chinese character can be spelled differently depending on dialect, so Tan and Chen are one name, and Ng matches Mandarin Wu or Huang.

Many Indian Malaysians are of Tamil descent and use a patronymic system like the Malay one. A/l, short for anak lelaki, means son of, and a/p, anak perempuan, means daughter of, as in Muthu a/l Samy. Some families use a single father's name without the connector. Sikh Malaysians generally use Singh for men and Kaur for women, and some add a clan name. Malayalee, Telugu and Ceylonese families bring their own naming habits as well.

Iban, Kadazan and Kristang names

In Sarawak, the Iban traditionally use anak, meaning child of, between a person's own name and the father's name, so a man might be named Jugah anak Barieng. In recent generations some Iban families have begun keeping a father's or grandfather's name as a fixed surname. Other Sarawak peoples, including the Bidayuh and Orang Ulu, have their own patterns, often combining Christian given names with a father's name.

In Sabah, many Kadazan-Dusun families use a Christian or Malay given name followed by a family name that has become fixed, such as Kitingan or Tangau. In Melaka, the Kristang community of Portuguese-Eurasian descent carries surnames like de Souza, Fernandes, de Costa, Sequerah and Lazaroo, which have been passed down for centuries. Together these groups make Malaysia one of the most varied naming environments in Asia.

Frequently asked questions

Do Malaysian last names pass from parent to child?

For Chinese Malaysians, Kristang families and many Kadazan families, yes. Most Malays and many Indian Malaysians use a patronymic instead, so the second part of the name is the father's given name and changes each generation. Iban families traditionally use anak followed by the father's name.

What do a/l and a/p mean?

They are Malay abbreviations used in Indian Malaysian names. A/l stands for anak lelaki, son of, and a/p for anak perempuan, daughter of. They link a person's given name to the father's name, much as bin and binti do in Malay names.

Why are Chinese names spelled differently in Malaysia?

Most Chinese Malaysian families came from southern China and spoke Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew or Hainanese. Their names were romanized from those dialects, not from Mandarin, so the name written Chen in China is usually Tan in Malaysia, and Wu often appears as Ng or Goh.

What does anak mean in an Iban name?

Anak means child in Malay and Iban. In traditional Iban names it links a person to the father, as in Jugah anak Barieng, meaning Jugah, child of Barieng. It works like bin or binti and does not form a fixed family name on its own.