Definition
Ho (Korean: 호) is a Korean family name, a single‑syllable given name, and a common element in two‑syllable Korean personal names.
Overview
The name Ho appears in Korean naming practice in three principal contexts: as a hereditary surname, as an independent masculine given name, and as a syllabic component of compound given names. It is represented in Hangul as 호 and can be written with various Hanja characters, each conferring a distinct meaning. According to the 2000 South Korean census, approximately 6,106 individuals bear Ho as a family name.
Etymology / Origin
As a surname, Ho may be derived from three different Hanja:
- 許 (허) – meaning “to permit” or “to allow.”
- 扈 (호) – meaning “retinue” or “escort.”
- 胡 (호) – originally a Chinese surname meaning “river” or “wild.”
Each Hanja variant is associated with specific bon‑gwan (clan origins). For example, those using 扈 trace their lineage to four bon‑gwan: Naju (Jeollanam‑do), Boan (Buan, Jeollabuk‑do), Baekcheon (Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam‑do), and Jeonju (Jeollabuk‑do). The surname’s origins are linked to historic Korean clans and, in some accounts, to legendary figures such as Queen Heo Hwang‑ok.
As a given name, Ho is a native Korean syllable that can be represented by a range of Hanja, each imparting different semantic content (e.g., “good,” “bright,” “tiger”). The specific meaning of a person’s name depends on the Hanja selected by the parents.
Characteristics
- Family name usage – Rare compared with more common Korean surnames; bearers are concentrated in the regions associated with their bon‑gwan.
- Given name usage – Primarily masculine; notable individuals with the single‑syllable name include actor Im Ho and football manager Kim Ho.
- Name element – Ho features prominently in many popular two‑syllable male names, such as Byung‑ho, Jin‑ho, Joon‑ho, Jung‑ho, Min‑ho, Sung‑ho, and Young‑ho. It also appears as the second syllable in names like Chang‑ho, Jae‑ho, Ji‑ho, Kwang‑ho, Kyung‑ho, Seok‑ho, Seung‑ho, Tae‑ho, and Won‑ho.
- Variability of meaning – The semantic value of Ho in a given name varies with the Hanja chosen; common meanings include “allow,” “retinue,” “bright,” or “tiger,” among others.
Related Topics
- Korean naming conventions
- Korean family names (seong) and clan origins (bon‑gwan)
- Korean given names (ireum) and the use of Hanja in personal names
- List of Korean given names
- Korean art names (ho) used by historical scholars and artists
References – Information derived from publicly available encyclopedic sources, including the Wikipedia article “Ho (Korean name).”