Zhou (surname)
Zhōu is the Hanyu Pinyin transliteration of the Chinese family name 周, which now ranks as the 10th most common surname in Mainland China, and 71st in South Korea. It has been one of the ten most common surnames in China since the Yuan Dynasty.
In places which use the Wade-Giles romanization such as Taiwan, Zhou is usually spelled as "Chou" (ㄓㄡ), and it may also be spelled "Chiau", "Chau", "Chao", "Chew", "Chow", "Chou", "Cho", "Chu", "Jhou", "Joe", "Jou", "Jue", or "Jow". Zhōu can also stand for another, rare Chinese family name, 洲.
The Korean equivalent is "Joo" or "Ju". In addition, the Vietnamese equivalent is "Châu" or "Chu".
Prominent individuals with the surname Zhou
Modern day
Zhou Enlai, first Premier of the People's Republic of China
Zhou Yongkang, member of the 17th CPC Politburo Standing Committee
Osric Chau, Canadian actor
Wakin Chau (Emil Chau), musician, singer
Chow Yun-fat, actor
Stephen Chow, actor, director and comedian
Jay Chou (Chou Chie Lun), Taiwanese musician, singer, songwriter and director