Huỳnh is a Vietnamese surname, a regional variant of Hoàng used predominantly in southern Vietnam. Both surnames derive from the Chinese surname Huang (traditional Chinese: 黃; simplified Chinese: 黄), meaning "yellow" in Sino-Vietnamese, as reflected in the root character. The distribution of Huỳnh versus Hoàng reflects Vietnamese dialectal and historical differences: Hoàng is more common in northern Vietnam, while Huỳnh is prevalent in the south. Etymology The root of Huỳnh is the Sino-Vietnamese element 黃 (hoàng), meaning "yellow." This character is also the source of the Chinese surname Huang and its many romanized forms across East and Southeast Asia. Huang is one of the most common surnames in China (ranked 7th) with over 35 million bearers in China and Taiwan as of 2020, plus millions more among overseas Chinese and other populations. In Vietnam, Hoàng and Huỳnh together rank as the 5th most common surname, held by an estimated 5.7 million people. Regional and Dialectal Variation The distinction between Huỳnh and Hoàng is a prominent example of regional variation within Vietnamese surnames. In northern Vietnam, speakers historically used the pronunciation Hoàng, while southern varieties shifted to Huỳnh. This mirrors the pattern seen in Chinese dialects: for example, Cantonese speakers may use Wong, while Hokkien speakers use Ng. Other common Vietnamese forms include Huỳnh, Hoàng, and the etymologically unrelated but homophonous Chinese-derived surnames Vong, Uy, and Ooi, reflecting the historical spread of Chinese migration. Notable Bearers Noteworthy individuals with the surname Huỳnh include Huỳnh Tấn Phát (1913–1989), a Vietnamese politician and architect who served as acting president of the Republic of South Vietnam; Huỳnh Phú Sổ (1920–1947), founder of the Hòa Hảo religious sect; and Huỳnh Văn Giai (1898–1985), a musician and composer. In modern contexts, Huỳnh is also seen among Vietnamese diaspora communities worldwide. Global Distribution In South Korea, the equivalent surname is Hwang, borne by some 697,000 individuals in 2015, and in Korea it can be traced to Chinese roots as well. In Vietnam, Huỳnh remains overwhelmingly frequent, especially in the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City area. Meaning: Yellow Origin: Chinese (from Huang) Type: Surname Usage Regions: Southern Vietnam