figuring out singaporean chinese family name romanisations

friday, june 19^th, 2026

went through a 12,079-name-long-list of every graduate from nanyang university and picked out just the family names (both the chinese characters and the romanisation) to try and figure out if there's any kind of pattern to the madness.

and the answer is... kinda? ignoring the family names in wade-giles, and looking at the pronunciations of each family name in singapore's various sinitic languages (hokkien, teochew, cantonese, hakka, etc.), here's what i could figure out:

initials

[m] m	[n] n		[ŋ] ng
[p] p	[t] t		[k] k
[pʰ] ph	[tʰ] th		[kʰ] kh
[b] b			[ɡ] g
	[ts] ch	[tʃ] ch
	[tsʰ] ch	[tʃʰ] ch
	[dz] j
[f] f	[s] s	[ʃ] sh	[h] h
[v] w
[w] w	[l] l	[j] y

medials

[j]		e/i
[w]		u

vowels

[a]	a(h)	[ə]	er
[ɐ]	a(h)	[ju]	(y/i)ew
[aj]	ai	[o]	o(h)
[ew]	aw	[ow]	o(h)
[e]	ay/ai	[ɔj]	oy
[ej]	ay	[u]	oo
[i]	ee	[ɔ]	or
[y]	ee	[aw]	ow
[ɛ]	e(h)	[ɵɥ]	ui/oy
[ɯ]	er

finals

[p]		p
[t]		t
[k]		k
[ʔ]		k

nasalisation, tones, and post-affricate aspiration are unmarked.
in romanisations of teochew family names, final [ŋ] is written as n where it corresponds to final [n] in hokkien.
a maximum of one h is allowed within a syllable. (so ho instead of *hoh to match koh, chia instead of *cheah to match seah, etc.)

of course there's still lots of inconsistencies and variants, but focusing on the most common spellings reveals a largely systemic romanisation. i feel like this system could potentially be viewed as a sort of singaporean equivalent to the government romanisation used with cantonese names in hong kong?

all that aside, here's the full list of every non-unique romanisation and how many times they appear:

freq.	char.	romanisations
1,525	陳	Tan 1202, Chan 116, Chin 69, Chen 64, Tang 15, Ting 11, Ding 6, Teng 5, Chern 4, Ching 4, Tin 4, Chang 2, Cheng 2, Ian 2, San 2, Sin 2, Ten 2, Tng 2
891	黃	Ng 469, Wong 295, Wee 33, Ooi 20, Hwang 13, Huang 10, Eng 9, Wang 9, Oei 7, Bong 5, Na 3, Kwang 2, Ong 2, Won 2
889	林	Lim 804, Ling 27, Lam 23, Lin 11, Lum 8, Lem 4, Lee 2, Liem 2, Ning 2
652	李	Lee 633, Lie 12, Li 3
494	王	Ong 313, Wong 105, Wang 35, Heng 27, Wee 10, Hong 2
474	張	Teo 208, Chong 127, Chang 59, Cheong 19, Teoh 19, Tiong 8, Tew 4, Thio 4, Tiew 3, Cheung 2, Chiang 2, Chung 2, Teong 2, Tio 2
402	吳	Goh 267, Ng 79, Wu 29, Ngo 6, Ngoh 5, Goo 3, Woo 3, Eng 2, Go 2, Gob 2, Ngoo 2
344	蔡	Chua 240, Chai 56, Chuah 14, Choy 13, Chia 4, Tjoa 4, Chye 2, Suah 2, Swa 2
335	鄭	Tay 156, Cheng 42, Tee 32, Teh 25, The 16, Chang 13, Tey 8, Thee 5, Chan 4, Chen 4, Chern 4, Tang 4, Chiang 3, Tan 3, Ching 2, Tare 2
312	劉	Low 128, Lau 76, Liew 45, Liu 16, Law 14, Lew 13, Lauw 4, Lou 4, Liou 2
281	楊	Yeo 143, Yong 74, Yang 19, Yeoh 17, Yeong 9, Jong 5, Young 4, Wong 2
274	許	Koh 189, Kho 18, Khor 17, Hsu 6, Hee 5, Hui 5, Khaw 4, Kok 4, Hooi 3, Ko 3, Shu 2
202	謝	Chia 95, Seah 47, Cheah 16, Sia 16, Siah 5, Cha 4, Chay 2, Tze 2
181	洪	Ang 164, Fong 4, Hong 4, Hoon 2, Ong 2
173	周	Chew 128, Chow 29, Chiew 4, Chiu 3, Tjioe 3, Chu 2
172	葉	Yap 130, Yip 18, Yeap 10, Yeh 5, Yew 2, Yik 2
171	梁	Leong 83, Neo 65, Leo 6, Liang 5, Liong 3, Leow 2, Nee 2, Neoh 2
169	何	Ho 150, Hoe 8, Hoo 4, Hor 3
160	郭	Quek 52, Kok 26, Kwok 19, Kwek 12, Kuek 7, Koay 6, Kwee 6, Kek 3, Kock 3, Ke 2, Ker 2, Kerk 2, Kiat 2, Kuok 2
143	曾	Chan 95, Chang 13, Chen 13, Chin 5, Tsang 4, Cheng 2, Ching 2, Chung 2, Tseng 2
132	符	Foo 118, Fu 6, Phoo 2
127	蘇	Soh 84, Soo 19, Saw 11, Toh 3, Shu 2, So 2, Su 2, Tow 2
118	潘	Phua 51, Poon 14, Pan 6, Phoon 6, Puah 6, Pun 5, Phan 4, Phuan 4, Phang 3, Pua 3, Fua 2, Fwa 2, Poh 2
104	羅	Loh 57, Low 24, Lo 12, Loo 3, Lor 3, Lau 2
101	沈	Sim 85, Sam 6, Sin 4, Sing 2
95	蕭	Seow 36, Siow 22, Siew 18, Siaw 5, Sio 4, Hsiao 2, Sheow 2
89	盧	Loh 37, Loo 24, Low 11, Lo 8, Lu 4, Loe 2, Lor 2
87	邱	Khoo 57, Chew 3, Hew 3, Koo 3, Kow 3, Yow 3, Chiu 2, Hiew 2, Kiu 2, Kiw 2
81	莊	Chng 27, Chuang 15, Chong 12, Chung 4, Twang 4, Chng 3, Tsjeng 3, Ch'ng 2, Chen 2, Ching 2, Chuan 2
80	胡	Woo 19, Foo 18, Oh 16, Aw 11, Hu 8, Wu 4
79	廖	Leow 35, Liew 11, Liaw 8, Liow 7, Liau 6, Liao 3, Liauw 3, Leaw 2
79	顏	Gan 64, Ngan 8, Yan 3, Yen 2
76	朱	Choo 54, Chu 8, Chee 6, Tjie 3, Cho 2
73	卓	Toh 64, Chak 2, To 2, Tok 2
72	馮	Fong 31, Pang 22, Foong 12, Phang 3, Fung 2
70	鍾	Chong 23, Cheng 14, Choong 11, Cheong 10, Chung 4, Chiong 3, Chiong 2, Chong 2, Choon 2, Tong 2
66	徐	Chee 23, See 9, Cher 5, Shee 5, Hsu 3, Chie 2, Hee 2, Ser 2, Soo 2
66	餘	Yee 22, Er 13, Ee 8, Yu 5, Ngoo 3, Yue 3, Erh 2, Jee 2
63	翁	Ong 37, Ang 10, Eng 10
60	傅	Poh 44, Foo 11, Fu 3
59	鄧	Tang 31, Teng 12, Tung 5, Tan 2, Thing 2, Tian 2
59	高	Koh 32, Ko 11, Kow 7, Kor 4
57	賴	Lai 42, Lua 7, Nai 3, Luah 2, Lye 2
54	黎	Loy 21, Lai 20, Loi 10
52	彭	Pang 26, Phang 10, Peng 5, Pee 2, Phee 2
52	白	Peh 33, Peck 7, Pek 5, Pei 3
50	方	Png 10, Poon 8, Fong 6, Hong 6, Pang 5, Peng 4, Fang 3, Hng 2, Hum 2, Poong 2
50	柯	Quah 14, Kua 12, Kuah 11, Kwa 7, Kwah 3
48	韓	Han 35, Hon 8, Hah 2, Hang 2
47	趙	Chow 14, Teo 12, Chao 4, Thio 4, Chew 3, Chiow 2, Teoh 2, Tew 2
46	孫	Soon 25, Sng 20
44	呂	Loo 20, Looi 9, Lu 5, Ler 2, Leu 2
44	姚	Yeow 10, Yeo 7, Yew 5, Yao 3, Yau 3, Yeoh 3, Yow 3
42	藍	Lam 37, Lum 2, Nah 2
41	譚	Tham 33, Tam 5
40	戴	Tai 21, Tay 10, Ter 2, Toh 2
37	詹	Chiam 23, Cham 4, Cheam 4, Chan 2
35	江	Kang 16, Kong 11, Chiang 4
35	程	Thia 11, Tian 5, Tiang 4, Cheng 2, Chin 2, Thiah 2
34	馬	Mah 10, Beh 9, Ma 8, Bay 4
32	莫	Mok 25, Boh 2
32	陸	Loke 20, Lek 3, Look 3, Leck 2, Lioek 2, Lok 2
28	唐	Thong 8, Tng 6, Tong 6, Tang 2
27	施	See 18, Sie 3, Sze 2
26	嚴	Ngiam 7, Yim 6, Giam 5, Ngian 2, Yam 2, Yan 2, Yin 2
26	魏	Wei 5, Wey 4, Gui 3, Ngai 3, Ngui 3, Wee 2
25	伍	Ng 15, Wu 5, Goh 4
24	曹	Chow 5, Tsao 5, Cho 4, Choe 4, Choh 2, Choo 2
22	佘	Seah 16, Sia 3
22	杜	Toh 15, Too 3
22	薛	See 7, Seet 4, Seek 2, Soon 2, Sy 2, Tit 2
21	袁	Yuen 9, Wang 3, Bin 2, Yuan 2, Yue 2
20	駱	Loh 10, Lok 7
20	龍	Long 8, Loong 5, Leong 3
19	溫	Wan 5, Woon 4, Oon 3, Voon 3
19	雲	Hoon 8, Woon 7, Wan 2
18	關	Kwan 13, Kuang 2
17	丁	Teng 14, Ting 3
17	侯	Hou 4, Hauw 2, Haw 2, Ho 2, How 2, Ou 2
16	丘	Hew 4, Khoo 3, Chiu 2, Khew 2
16	連	Lian 8, Leen 3, Lien 2, Ling 2
15	辜	Koh 8, Kho 3, Kow 2
15	邢	Heng 9, Heah 2
14	範	Fan 7, Hum 2
14	蔣	Chiang 4, Chang 2, Cheo 2, Chionh 2
14	鄺	Khong 4, Kwong 3, Kong 2, Kwang 2
14	雷	Looi 8, Lui 3, Loi 2
14	麥	Mak 10, Bek 2
13	倪	Gay 3, Goy 3
13	易	Yak 3, Yah 2, Yick 2
13	鄒	Chew 6, Chow 3, Cheow 2
13	顧	Ku 6, Khoo 4, Koh 2
12	汪	Ang 8, Wong 2
11	宋	Song 6, Sang 2, Soong 2
11	尹	Wan 8
11	阮	Yuen 6, Wan 4
11	饒	Eaw 2
10	尤	Yew 7, You 2
10	梅	Boey 7
10	歐陽	Au Yeung 2, Aw Yong 3
10	龔	Kong 5, Keng 2, Keong 2
9	司徒	See Toh 7, See Tow 2
9	巫	Boo 3, Moe 2, Moh 2
9	鄞	Gn 5
8	任	Yam 5, Yim 3
8	區	Au 4, Aw 2, Ow 2
8	文	Boon 5, Mun 3
8	石	Cheok 2
8	紀	Kee 7
8	董	Tang 4, Tong 2
8	賀	Ho 6, Hoe 2
7	倫	Loon 4, Lun 3
7	池	Tee 3, Chee 2
7	甘	Kam 4, Kum 2
7	田	Thian 5, Chan 2
7	章	Cheo 2, Chong 2
7	管	Kwan 4, Kuan 2
7	萬	Wan 5
6	古	Koo 5
6	塗	Too 3
6	崔	Chui 3, Chooi 2
6	湯	Thong 2
6	熊	Yoong 2
6	遊	Yew 3, Yow 2
6	錢	Chee 2, Chen 2, Chin 2
5	勞	Loh 3
5	夏	Ha 4
5	鄔	Voo 2, Woo 2
5	金	Chin 2, Kim 2
5	韋	Wai 3, Wee 2
4	俞	Yu 2
4	全	Chuan 2
4	岑	Sam 2
4	殷	Yong 3
4	辛	Sin 3
4	鬱	Woot 2
3	凌	Ling 3
3	包	Pow 2
3	卜	Pok 3
3	容	Yong 2
3	房	Fong 3
3	祝	Tok 2
3	簡	Kan 3
3	陶	Hau 2
3	龐	Pang 3
2	植	Chik 2
2	童	Tong 2
2	練	Lian 2
2	華	Wah 2
2	蒙	Mong 2
2	車	Chia 2

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