Pronunciation | [tɕʰwe] or [tɕʰø] |
---|---|
Language(s) | Korean |
Origin | |
Meaning | Best, Top, Most, Pinnacle |
Region of origin | Korea |
Other names | |
Alternative spelling | Ch'oe, Tsoi, Chye, Chwe, Chey |
Variant form(s) | Cui, Thôi |
Choi | |
Hangul | 최 |
---|---|
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Choe |
McCune–Reischauer | Ch'oe |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Distribution_of_South_Korean_family_names.svg/220px-Distribution_of_South_Korean_family_names.svg.png)
Choi (Korean: 최; Hanja: 崔) 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.[1] In English-speaking countries, it is most often anglicized as Choi, and sometimes also Chey, Choe or Chwe. Ethnic Koreans in the former USSR prefer the form Tsoi (Tsoy) especially as a transcription of the Cyrillic Цой.
Origin
[edit]- According to Samguk Sagi, the Gyeongju clan originates from chief Sobeoldori (소벌도리, 蘇伐都利) of Goheochon (고허촌, 高墟村), one of six villages that united to found Silla; The Gyeongju clan traces their origin back to Choi Chiwon (857–10th century), a noted Korean scholar, philosopher, and poet of the late Unified Silla period (668–935).
- One theory of origin suggests that Haeju clan's progenitor Ch'oe Ch'ung (984–1068) was given the surname 崔 during the reign of Goryeo king Mokjong.
- The progenitor of the Chungju clan is General Choi Seung (최승, 崔陞), also known as Choi Woo (최우, 崔偶), of Silla (known as Cui Sheng in the Tang dynasty)
- The progenitor of the Nangju clan is Choi Heun (최흔, 崔昕) of Silla who was a native of Yeongam (Nangju) of the southern Jeolla region.
- Choi Ri (최리, 崔理), who was known as the leader of the Kingdom of Nakrang
Clans
[edit]There are roughly 160 clans of Chois.[citation needed] 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 Choe claim the Silla scholar Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn as their founder.[2]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/%ED%95%B4%EC%A3%BC_%EC%B5%9C%EC%94%A8%EC%9D%98_%EC%A2%85%EB%AC%B8.svg/220px-%ED%95%B4%EC%A3%BC_%EC%B5%9C%EC%94%A8%EC%9D%98_%EC%A2%85%EB%AC%B8.svg.png)
- Haeju clan[2] – Choe Chung
- Saknyeong clan[2] – Choe Hang, Choi Byung Ju (founding member modern era Korean Supreme Court)
- Gangneung clan[2]
- Hwasun clan[2]
- Ganghwa clan[2]
- Yeongcheon clan[2]
- Tamjin clan[2]
- Ubong clan[2]
- Suwaon clan[2]
- Yeongheung clan[2]
- Suseong clan[2]
- Chungju Choe clan[2]
- Goesan clan – Choe Sejin[3]
- Heunghae clan
- Yeongam clan
- Taein clan
Etymology and Pronunciation
[edit]Choi is written with the Hanja character 崔, meaning "a governor who oversees the land and the mountain".
In Korean, 최 is usually pronounced [tɕʰwe] "Chwe" or “Chey” except by some older speakers who pronounce it [tɕʰø] (this vowel sound is similar to the German ö [ø]). In English, it is most often pronounced /ˈtʃɔɪ/ "Choy", which sounds clearly different to its proper pronunciation but some go by “Chey”.
Prominent people of the past
[edit]- Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn (1149–1219), military dictator of the Goryeo period
- Ch'oe U (1166–1249), military dictator of the Goryeo period
- Ch'oe Mu-sŏn (1330–1395), Korean scientist, inventor, and military commander
- Ch'oe Yŏng (1316–1388), military general of the Goryeo period
- Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn (859–?), Korean philosopher during the Silla dynasty
- Choe Han-gi (1803–1877), Korean Confucian scholar and philosopher
- Choe Je-u (1824–1864), founder of the Donghak movement
- Choe Man-ri (???–1445), associate professor and early critic of hangul
- Choe Sejin (1465–1542), Korean linguist
- Royal Noble Consort Sukbin Choe (1670–1718), royal consort
- Choe Yeong-kyeong (1529–1590), scholar-official of the Joseon period
Prominent people today
[edit]General
[edit]- Dan Choi (born 1981), American LGBT rights activist and former infantry officer
- Choi Gee-sung (born 1951), South Korean businessman
- Hamid Choi, South Korean translator and professor
- Choi Hong-hi, South Korean general and martial artist
- Jay Pil Choi, American economist
- Choe Jun (1884–1970), businessman and philanthropist
- Choe Nam-seon (1890–1957), Korean historian and independence activist
- Sophia Choi (born 1971), American news broadcaster
- Choi Tae-min (1912–1994), South Korean cult leader
- Chey Tae-won (born 1960), South Korean business magnate
- Choi Wonshik, South Korean optical physicist
Politicians
[edit]- Choe Kwang (1918– 1997), North Korean general and politician
- Choi Kyoung-hwan (born 1955), South Korean politician
- Choi Kyu-hah (1919–2006), South Korean politician
- Steven Choi (born 1944), American politician
- Choe Ryong-hae (born 1950), North Korean politician and military officer
- Sergey Tsoy (born 1957), Russian politician and executive
Arts
[edit]General
[edit]- David Choe (born 1976), American artist
- Choe Yong-gon (official) (1900-1976), North Korean official and politician
- Choi Han, South Korean voice actor
- Choi Hye-seon (born 1998), South Korean model
- Kristy Choi, Korean-American filmmaker
- Choi Seong-woo (born 1954), South Korean voice actress
- Sharon Choi (born c. 1994), South Korean interpreter and film director
- Choi Soo-jin, South Korean voice actress
- Susan Choi (born 1969), American novelist
- Choi Won-hyeong (born 1968), South Korean voice actor
Actors and actresses
[edit]- Choi Ah-jin (stage name Lee Ah-jin, born 1991), South Korean actress and model
- Choi Bool-am (born 1940), South Korean retired actor and professor
- Choi Cheol-ho (born 1970), South Korean actor
- Choi Dae-chul (born 1978), South Korean actor
- Choi Deok-moon (born 1970), South Korean actor
- Choi Eun-hee (1926–2018), South Korean actress
- Choi Go (born 2012), South Korean actor and model
- Choi Gwi-hwa (born 1978), South Korean actor
- Choi Han-bit (born 1987), South Korean model and actress
- Choi Hee-jin (born 1996), South Korean actress
- Choi Hee-seo (born 1986), South Korean actress
- Choi Hyun-wook (born 2002), South Korean actor
- Choi Ji-woo (born 1975), South Korean actress
- Choi Jin-sil (1968–2008), South Korean actress
- Choi Jung-yoon (born 1977), South Korean actress
- Choi Jung-won (born 1969), South Korean actress
- Choi Jung-won (born 1981), South Korean actress
- Choi Kang-hee (born 1977), South Korean actress and radio DJ
- Kenneth Choi (born 1971), American actor
- Choi Kwon-soo (born 2004), South Korean actor
- Choi Kyu-jin (born 1996), South Korean actor
- Choi Min-sik (born 1962), South Korean actor
- Choi Min-soo (born 1962), South Korean actor
- Choi Moo-ryong (1928–1999), South Korean actor
- Choi Ri (born 1995), South Korean actress
- Choi Sung-eun (born 1996), South Korean actress
- Choi Sung-kook (born 1970), South Korean actor
- Choi Tae-hwan (born 1989), South Korean actor
- Choi Won-hong (born 2000), South Korean actor
- Choi Woo-hyuk (born 1985), South Korean actor
- Choi Woo-hyuk (born 1997), South Korean actor
- Choi Won-myeong (born 1994), South Korean actor and model
- Choi Woo-shik (born 1990), Korean-Canadian actor
- Choi Won-young (born 1976), South Korean actor
- Choi Young-joon (born 1980), South Korean actor and singer
Musicians
[edit]- Choi Bo-min (born 2000), South Korean actor and singer
- Dasuri Choi (born 1988), South Korean dancer and entertainer
- David Choi (born 1986), American musician
- Seven (born Choi Dong-wook, 1984), South Korean singer
- G.NA (born Gina Jane Choi, 1987), Korean-Canadian singer and actress
- Wheesung (born Choi Hwee-sung, 1982), South Korean singer
- Hyojung (born Choi Hyo-jung, 1994), South Korean singer
- Choi Hyun-suk (born 1999), South Korean rapper
- Jennifer Choi, Korean-American violinist
- Jenny Choi, American singer and cellist
- Lia (born Choi Ji-su, 2000), South Korean singer
- Sulli (born Choi Jin-ri, 1994–2019), South Korean singer and actress
- Choi Jong-hoon (born 1990), South Korean musician
- Changjo (born Choi Jong-hyun, 1995), South Korean singer
- Zelo (born Choi Jun-hong, 1996), South Korean singer
- Choi Jung-in (born 1980), South Korean singer
- Choi Jung-won (born 1981), South Korean singer
- Ren (born Choi Min-gi, 1995), South Korean actor and singer
- Choi Min-ho (born 1991), South Korean rapper and singer
- Choi Min-hwan (born 1992), South Korean singer and drummer
- S.Coups (born Choi Seung-cheol, 1995), South Korean rapper and singer
- Vernon (born Chwe Han-sol, 1998), South Korean rapper and singer
- T.O.P (born Choi Seung-hyun, 1987), South Korean rapper and actor
- Choi Si-won (born 1986), South Korean singer and actor
- Choi Soo-young (born 1990), South Korean singer and actress
- Bada (born Choi Sung-hee, 1980), South Korean singer and musical theatre actress
- Choi Sung-min (born 1995), South Korean singer
- Choi Ye-na (born 1999), South Korean singer
- Arin (born Choi Ye-won, 1999), South Korean singer
- Choi Yoo-jung (born 1999), South Korean singer
- Choi Young-jae (born 1996), South Korean singer and actor
- Choi Yu-jin (born 1996), South Korean singer and actress
- Yuju (born Choi Yu-na, 1997), South Korean singer
- Cui Jian (born 1961), Chinese singer-songwriter and musician
- Viktor Tsoi (1962–1990), Soviet singer-songwriter and actor
- Anita Tsoy (born 1971), Russian singer-songwriter
Sports
[edit]- Yuhui Choe (born 1986), Japanese-born Korean ballet dancer
- Choi Cheol-han, South Korean professional Go player
- Choe Chol-su (born 1969), North Korean boxer
- Choi Da-bin (born 2000), South Korean figure skater
- Choi Eun-kyung (field hockey) (born 1971), South Korean former field hockey player
- Choi Eun-kyung (born 1984), South Korean short track speed skater
- Hee-seop Choi (born 1979), South Korean former professional baseball player
- Hongman Choi (born 1980), South Korean kickboxer and mixed martial artist
- Ji-man Choi (born 1991), South Korean professional baseball player
- Choi Jin-cheul (born 1971), South Korean football manager and former player
- Choi Jung-won (speed skater) (born 1990), South Korean short track speed skater
- Choi Kwang-jo (born 1942), South Korean martial artist
- K. J. Choi (born Choi Kyung-Ju, 1970), South Korean professional golfer
- Choi Mi-sun (born 1966), South Korean recurve archer
- Choe Myong-ho (born 1988), North Korean footballer
- Choi Myung-hoon (born 1975), South Korean professional Go player
- Choi Na-yeon (born 1987), South Korean professional golfer
- Choi Soon-ho (born 1962), South Korean football manager and former player
- Choe Song-hyok (born 1998), North Korean footballer
- Choi Sung-kuk (born 1983), South Korean former footballer
- Choi Sung-yong (born 1975), South Korean former footballer
- Choi Tae-uk (born 1981), South Korean former footballer
- Choi Won-jong (born 1978), South Korean archer
- Choi Won-kwon (born 1981), South Korean former footballer
- Mas Oyama (born Choi Yeong-eui, 1923–1994), South Korean karate master
- iloveoov (born Choi Yeon-sung, c. 1983), South Korean retired professional StarCraft player
- Choi Yong-soo (boxer) (1972), South Korean retired boxer
- Choi Yong-soo (born 1973), South Korean footballer
- Choi Yong-sool (1904–1986), South Korean martial artist
- Choi Yu-jin (figure skater) (born 2000), South Korean figure skater
- Choi Yun-kyum (born 1962), South Korean football manager
See also
[edit]- Cui – Chinese surname
- Choi
- Tsoi
- List of Korean family names
References
[edit]- ^ "2015년 인구주택총조사 전수집계결과 보도자료" [Results of the 2015 Census of Population and Housing survey]. Korean Statistical Information Service. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 최 崔 [Choe] (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-09-18.[permanent dead link]
- ^ 최세진 崔世珍 [Choe Se-jin] (in Korean). Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 2009-09-18.[permanent dead link]