One limitation of phonetic writing systems is that the same character can acquire different pronunciations after communities have been separated for only a few decades or a century. Combine this with different spelling rules, and the written forms eventually differ too.
The spelling of overseas Chinese surnames offers a glimpse of this. Take my own surname, “谢”: in Hanyu Pinyin it is “Xie”; in Taiwan's Wade–Giles system, “Hsieh”; in Hong Kong, following Cantonese pronunciation and English spelling conventions, “Tse”; in Macau, following Cantonese pronunciation and Portuguese spelling conventions, “Che”; in Vietnamese, using the Sino-Vietnamese reading, “Tạ”; and in Korean, using the Sino-Korean reading, "Sa". Singapore and Malaysia are more complicated still: the possibilities are “Cheah/Tay/Chia” and “Cheah/Chiah/Chia/Seah/Sia/See/Tia,” respectively.
Singapore and Malaysia have so many spellings because many dialects are spoken there, including Cantonese, Hakka, and Teochew/Hokkien. Literary and colloquial readings add further variation, so one character can have several spellings, and one spelling does not necessarily identify a single surname. “Tan,” for example, might mean “谭,” but is more likely to mean “陈,” following Teochew/Hokkien pronunciation.
The basic rule for Chinese names in Singapore and Malaysia is therefore to spell the sounds of one's own dialect using English. Some younger ethnic Chinese now use Hanyu Pinyin for their given names, but still follow their fathers' surname spellings. Otherwise, Malay clerks registering names would find it strange for one family to have different surnames. Fortunately, Chinese traditions are well preserved in both Singapore and Malaysia. People have their own names in Chinese characters; the romanized form is only an aid to help people of other ethnicities address them.
Unfortunately, I do not speak these dialects, so it is hard for me to analyze the pronunciations behind the spellings. But I have another method: listing examples. Once we have seen enough names, some patterns should naturally become clear.
For this investigation, I compiled the following two sets of reference data. Table One is an AI-assisted list of representative Chinese figures in Singapore and Malaysia, compiled from publicly available historical material. Table Two contains surname-spelling samples for 206 Chinese pioneers, obtained by cleaning and filtering the Singapore Biographical Database (SBDB), removing people without distinctive English names. Not everyone in this table is Singaporean; many merely have connections with Singapore.
After reading them, my impressions are: ① I cannot find a pattern; ② Mandarin and Hanyu Pinyin are still easier to understand; ③ perhaps someone proficient in Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, and English could spot something.
Appendix:
Table One: Representative Chinese Figures in Singapore and Malaysia
| Chinese name | English name | Place of origin / dialect group | Brief introduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 郑景贵 | Chung Keng Quee | Zengcheng, Guangdong (Hakka) | Kapitan China of Perak, a tin-mining magnate in Jilizi (Pee), a founder of Taiping, and one of the most influential Chinese leaders of the British colonial era. |
| 陈旭年 | Tan Yeok Nee | Teochew | A Chinese community head (Kapitan) in Johor and pioneer of Johor Bahru, highly valued by the sultan of Johor. Jalan Tan Hiok Nee in Johor Bahru is named after him. |
| 叶亚来 | Yap Ah Loy | Huizhou, Guangdong (Hakka) | The third Kapitan China of Kuala Lumpur and a key figure in its founding and rebuilding, who led its recovery from war. |
| 黄亚福 | Wong Ah Fook | Taishan, Guangdong (Cantonese) | A prominent building contractor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist in Johor who oversaw construction of the Grand Palace in Johor Bahru. Jalan Wong Ah Fook is named after him. |
| 张弼士 | Chang Bishi (Tjang Tjhoek Njin) | Dabu, Guangdong (Hakka) | A celebrated patriotic overseas Chinese industrialist of the late Qing and founder of Changyu winery. He served as Qing consul-general in Penang, where his former residence, the Blue Mansion, survives. |
| 辜鸿铭 | Koh Hong Beng (Ku Hung-ming) | Tong'an, Xiamen, Fujian (Hokkien) | A Penang-born giant of Chinese and Western culture, multilingual and a prominent late-Qing scholar, who systematically translated and introduced Confucian classics to the West. |
| 伍连德 | Wu Lien-Teh | Taishan, Guangdong (Cantonese) | A Penang-born physician with a medical doctorate from Harvard University who successfully controlled the great Manchurian plague of 1910, hailed as a pioneer of modern Chinese medicine. |
| 林文庆 | Lim Boon Keng | Haicheng, Zhangzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | A prominent scholar, physician, and social reformer who served as president of Xiamen University and played a key role in reforming Chinese society and education in Singapore. |
| 陈祯禄 | Tan Cheng Lock | Longxi, Zhangzhou, Fujian (Hokkien/Peranakan) | A pioneering Malaysian Chinese politician, founder and first president of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), instrumental in Malayan independence negotiations and the struggle for Chinese citizenship rights. |
| 李孝式 | Henry Lee Hau Shik | Xinyi, Guangdong (Cantonese) | The first finance minister of the Federation of Malaya and a cofounder of the MCA, who played an exceptionally important role in Malayan independence and the establishment of its financial system. |
| 李光耀 | Lee Kuan Yew | Dabu, Meizhou, Guangdong (Hakka) | Singapore's founding prime minister, hailed as its founding father, who led its transformation from an impoverished island into an international financial center. |
| 陈嘉庚 | Tan Kah Kee | Tong'an, Xiamen, Fujian (Hokkien) | A celebrated patriotic overseas Chinese leader, entrepreneur, and educator who founded Xiamen University and Singapore's Chinese High School, deeply beloved by Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaysia. |
| 吴庆瑞 | Goh Keng Swee | Yongchun, Quanzhou, Fujian (Hakka/Hokkien) | A former deputy prime minister of Singapore and chief architect of its economic development, who laid the foundations of its industrialization, financial system, and national defense. |
| 李显龙 | Lee Hsien Loong | Dabu, Meizhou, Guangdong (Hakka) | Lee Kuan Yew's eldest son and Singapore's third prime minister, now senior minister, who led Singapore for twenty years and sustained its economic prosperity and political stability. |
| 黄循财 | Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai | Nan'an, Quanzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | Singapore's fourth prime minister and finance minister, leader of its fourth-generation (4G) leadership team, guiding the country through post-pandemic transformation. |
| 谢富年 | Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling | Guangdong Hakka | A Malaysian business magnate and founder of Sunway Group, who established Sunway University and has devoted substantial efforts to public welfare and educational philanthropy. |
| 陈志远 | Vincent Tan Chee Yioun | Yongchun, Quanzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | Founder of Malaysia's Berjaya Corporation, with interests spanning property, gaming, retail, and sports; owner of Cardiff City Football Club. |
| 杨肃斌 | Francis Yeoh Sock Ping | Kinmen, Fujian (Hokkien) | Yeoh Tiong Lay's eldest son and head of YTL Group, which he expanded into a multinational infrastructure and power conglomerate. |
| 陆兆福 | Anthony Loke Siew Fook | Guangdong Hakka / Cantonese | A senior Malaysian politician and secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), who has served multiple terms as transport minister and advanced major public transport reforms. |
| 林冠英 | Lim Guan Eng | Pinghe, Zhangzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | Lim Kit Siang's son, a former Malaysian finance minister and Penang chief minister, who played a key role in Penang's economic and industrial transformation. |
| 魏家祥 | Wee Ka Siong | Hakka | A senior Malaysian politician and MCA president, formerly transport minister and a minister in the Prime Minister's Department. |
| 蔡明亮 | Tsai Ming-liang | Meizhou, Guangdong (Hakka/Hokkien) | An internationally acclaimed director born in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia; a representative of Taiwan's New Wave cinema and winner of the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion. |
| 杨紫琼 | Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng | Zhangzhou, Fujian (Hokkien/Cantonese) | An international film star born in Ipoh, Malaysia, who became the first ethnic Chinese winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once. |
| 李宗伟 | Lee Chong Wei | Nan'an, Quanzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | A legendary Malaysian badminton star who held the world number-one men's singles ranking for 349 consecutive weeks, won three Olympic silver medals, and is hailed as a national sporting hero. |
| 王鼎昌 | Ong Teng Cheong | Tong'an, Xiamen, Fujian (Hokkien) | Singapore's first popularly elected president, a veteran architect and politician who strongly promoted construction of the country's first MRT system. |
| 陈庆炎 | Tony Tan Keng Yam | Tong'an, Xiamen, Fujian (Hokkien) | Singapore's seventh president, a former deputy prime minister and deputy chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), with outstanding contributions to technology, education, and finance. |
| 陈修信 | Tan Siew Sin | Longxi, Zhangzhou, Fujian (Hokkien/Peranakan) | Tan Cheng Lock's son and Malaysia's longest-serving finance minister, holding office for fifteen years, who established a sound fiscal and taxation system in the early years of Malayan independence. |
| 林吉祥 | Lim Kit Siang | Pinghe, Zhangzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | A senior Malaysian politician and DAP veteran, one of the longest-serving opposition leaders in Malaysia's parliament, awarded the title Tan Sri. |
| 廖中莱 | Liow Tiong Lai | Meizhou, Guangdong (Hakka) | A prominent Malaysian Chinese politician who served as health minister, transport minister, and MCA president. |
| 李显扬 | Lee Hsien Yang | Dabu, Meizhou, Guangdong (Hakka) | Lee Kuan Yew's second son, formerly Singtel chief executive and Civil Aviation Authority chairman, who later entered politics and joined the opposition. |
| 陈秀连 | Chan Sow Lin | Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong (Cantonese) | A pioneer of Kuala Lumpur, prominent tin miner, and Chinese community leader who founded Malaysia's first Chinese-owned ironworks, known as the father of Malaysian Chinese mechanical engineering. Jalan Chan Sow Lin in Kuala Lumpur is named after him. |
| 郭鹤年 | Robert Kuok Hock Nien | Fuzhou, Fujian | Malaysia's richest person, founder of the multinational Kerry Group and Shangri-La hotel group, internationally renowned as Asia's Sugar King. |
| 李光前 | Lee Kong Chian | Nan'an, Quanzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | A prominent Singaporean industrialist and philanthropist, founder of Lee Rubber, leading figure at OCBC, and founder of the well-known Lee Foundation. |
| 林梧桐 | Lim Goh Tong | Anxi, Quanzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | A legendary Malaysian entrepreneur and founder of Genting Group, who single-handedly transformed remote mountains into the world-famous Genting Highlands integrated resort. |
| 杨忠礼 | Yeoh Tiong Lay | Kinmen, Fujian (Hokkien) | Founder of Malaysia's YTL Group, who built the family business into a multinational commercial empire spanning power, cement, property, and construction. |
| 李深静 | Lee Shin Cheng | Anxi, Quanzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | Founder of Malaysia's IOI Group, hailed as the Palm Oil King and a major figure in Malaysian property and agriculture. |
| 陈六使 | Tan Lark Sye | Tong'an, Xiamen, Fujian (Hokkien) | A former president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and renowned rubber magnate, central to founding Nanyang University, Southeast Asia's first Chinese-language university. |
| 胡文虎 | Aw Boon Haw | Yongding, Fujian (Hakka) | A prominent Hakka entrepreneur and founder of Tiger Balm, who established newspaper groups including Sin Chew Daily and Sing Tao Daily. |
| 章芳琳（章芳艳） | Cheang Hong Lim | Tong'an, Xiamen, Fujian (Hokkien) | A wealthy nineteenth-century Singaporean merchant and philanthropist who generously donated public green space. Hong Lim Park, home to Singapore's famous Speakers' Corner, is named after him. |
| 林连玉 | Lim Lian Geok | Yongchun, Quanzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | A leader of Malaysian Chinese education and former chairman of the United Chinese School Teachers' Association, revered as the soul of the community, who devoted his life to Chinese-language education and Chinese citizenship rights. |
| 林晃升 | Lim Fong Seng | Meizhou, Guangdong (Hakka) | A Malaysian Chinese education leader and former chairman of the United Chinese School Committees' Association, who promoted the Chinese independent school revival movement and the establishment of an independent university; a central campaigner for Chinese education. |
| 沈慕羽 | Sim Mow Yu | Jinjiang, Quanzhou, Fujian (Hokkien) | A pioneer of Malaysian Chinese education and former chairman of the United Chinese School Teachers' Association, devoted to promoting Chinese education and calligraphy, respectfully called Elder Sim by the Chinese community. |
| 郑格如 | Tang Kak Choo | Fuzhou, Fujian | The mother of Robert Kuok, Asia's Sugar King. Deeply influenced by Fuzhou culture, she profoundly shaped the Kuok family's values, upbringing, and business ethics. |
| 潘斯里·陈开蓉 | Chen Kai Jung | Fujian | Widow of Yeoh Tiong Lay, founder of Malaysia's YTL Group, and a well-known supporter of education and philanthropy. |
| 梁静茹 | Fish Leong Chui Peng | Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong (Cantonese) | A prominent Malaysian Mandopop singer, renowned as the Queen of Love Songs. Her signature songs Courage, Ningxia, and Love Song are popular throughout the Chinese-speaking world. |
| 林俊杰 | Wayne Lim Jun Jie | Kinmen, Fujian (Hokkien) | A nationally treasured Singaporean Mandopop singer and producer, a two-time Golden Melody Award Best Male Singer winner, known in the Chinese music world as a walking CD. |
| 光良 | Michael Wong Kong Leong | Meizhou, Guangdong (Hakka) | A prominent Malaysian singer-songwriter and member of Michael & Victor, who set records in Chinese pop music with the widely popular song Fairy Tale. |
| 戴佩妮 | Penny Tai Pei Nee | Haifeng, Guangdong (Hakka) | A Malaysian singer-songwriter and producer who has repeatedly won Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards for Best Mandarin Female Singer and Best Composer. |
| 巫启贤 | Eric Moo Chii Sien | Meizhou, Guangdong (Hakka) | A prominent singer and music producer born in Perak, Malaysia, a representative figure of Chinese pop's campus folk / Red Guanyin era. |
| 李心洁 | Angelica Lee Sinje | Fujian (Hokkien) | A prominent actress and singer born in Kedah, Malaysia, who won Best Actress at both the Golden Horse Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards for the thriller The Eye. |
| 王雪晶 | Crystal Ong Shir Ching | Guangdong Hakka / Fujian | A prominent Malaysian singer and pioneering child star who debuted at eight and released several solo child-star albums before joining M-Girls, hailed as Malaysia's Queen of Lunar New Year Songs. |
| 莊群施 | Queenzy Cheng Kuan Si | Teochew, Guangdong / Hakka | A prominent Malaysian singer and actress, a core member of M-Girls who, alongside Crystal Ong, remains a cross-generational childhood memory and queen of Lunar New Year songs. |
| 阿杜 | A-Do (A-Toon) | Fujian (Hokkien) | A Singapore-born pop singer whose distinctive husky voice made He Must Love You Very Much and Hold On to the End hits across Asia. |
| 曹格 | Gary Chaw Ge | Taishan, Guangdong (Hakka) | A Malaysian singer-songwriter whose soaring, distinctive jazz and R&B vocals earned him the Golden Melody Award for Best Mandarin Male Singer. |
| 黄明志 | Namewee (Goh Ming Wei) | Hainan, Guangdong | A Malaysian singer-songwriter and director of unusual creative talent, whose highly individual multilingual music and social satire have attracted enormous online attention. |
| 杨雁雁 | Yeo Yann Yann | Fujian (Hokkien) | A prominent Malaysian actress who won Golden Horse Awards twice, for Best Supporting Actress in Ilo Ilo and Best Actress in Wet Season. |
| 林宇中 | Rynn Lim Yee Chung | Fujian (Hokkien) | A Malaysian singer-songwriter and actor, winner of Taiwan's Golden Melody Award for Best New Artist, whose signature works include Coming Ashore and Dried-Fish Girl. |
| 温绍平 | Jordan Voon Siow Ping | Guangdong Hakka | A veteran Malaysian Chinese-language film and television actor who appeared in many classic Singaporean and Malaysian series and won the Golden Awards for Best Actor. |
Table Two: Surname-Spelling Samples for 206 Chinese Pioneers
| Chinese_Name: name in Chinese characters | English_Name: name in English | Dialect_Group |
|---|---|---|
| 李大傻 | Lee Dai Soh | Cantonese/Canton |
| 孙中山 | Sun Yat-sen | Cantonese/Canton |
| 伍连德 | Wu Lien-Teh | Cantonese/Canton |
| 杨缵文 | Yeo Chan Boon | Teochew |
| 林义顺 | Lim Nee Soon | Teochew |
| 张永福 | Teo Eng Hock | Teochew |
| 李光前 | Lee Kong Chian | Hokkien |
| 周献瑞 | Chew Hian Swee | Hokkien |
| 黄奕欢 | Ng Aik Huan | Hokkien |
| 何葆仁 | Ho Pao Jin | Hokkien |
| 陈嘉庚 | Tan Kah Kee | Hokkien |
| 陈六使 | Tan Lark Sye | Hokkien |
| 陈延谦 | Tan Ean Kiam | Hokkien |
| 胡少炎 | Oh Siow Yam | Hokkien |
| 林惠祥 | Lin Huixiang | Hokkien |
| 陈维龙 | Tan Ee Leong | Hokkien |
| 林邦彦 | Lim Pang Gan | Hokkien |
| 陈育崧 | Tan Yeok Seong | Hokkien |
| 林文庆 | Lim Boon Keng | Hokkien |
| 陈武烈 | Tan Boo Liat | Hokkien |
| 吴寿珍 | Goh Siew Tin | Hokkien |
| 侯西反 | Hau Say-huan | Hokkien |
| 白清泉 | Pek Cheng Chuan | Hokkien |
| 蔡金吉 | Choa Kim Keat | Hokkien |
| 蔡金钟 | Chua Kim Cheng | Not available/Nil |
| 曹亚志 | Chow Ah Chey | Cantonese/Canton |
| 陈成宝 | Tan Seng Poh | Teochew |
| 陈楚楠 | Tan Chor Lam | Hokkien |
| 陈笃生 | Tan Tock Seng | Hokkien |
| 陈恭锡 | Tan Keong Saik | Hokkien |
| 陈金声 | Tan Kim Seng | Hokkien |
| 陈金钟 | Tan Kim Ching (Cheng) | Hokkien |
| 陈明水 | Tan Beng Swee | Hokkien |
| 陈齐贤 | Tan Chay Yan | Hokkien |
| 陈人浩 | Chen Jen Hao | Hokkien |
| 陈若锦 | Tan Jiak Kim | Hokkien |
| 陈诗武 | Tan See Boo | Hokkien |
| 陈思敏 | Tan Soo Bin | Hokkien |
| 陈送 | Tan Che Sang (Inhek Sang) | Hokkien |
| 陈泰 | Tan Tye | Hokkien |
| 陈旭年 | Tan Yeok Nee | Teochew |
| 陈延反 | Tan Yan Huan | Not available/Nil |
| 陈仰安 | Tan Ngiang Ann | Teochew |
| 陈永锡 | Tan Yong Siak | Teochew |
| 陈永裕 | Tan Eng Joo | Not available/Nil |
| 陈振传 | Tan Chin Tuan | Hokkien |
| 陈之初 | Tan Tsze Chor | Teochew |
| 陈宗瑞 | Chen Chong Swee | Teochew |
| 戴河水 | Tay Ho Swee | Hokkien |
| 丁马成 | Teng Mah Seng | Hokkien |
| 杜进才 | Toh Chin Chye | Hokkien |
| 傅无闷 | Fu Wumen | Hokkien |
| 符致逢 | Foo Chee Fong | Hainanese/Hainan |
| 高德根 | Ko Teck Kin | Hokkien |
| 郭芳枫 | Kwek Hong Png | Hokkien |
| 郭可模 | Guok Koh Muo | Hokkien |
| 郭珊瑚 | Guo Shanhu | Hokkien |
| 郭新 | Quek Shin | Hainanese/Hainan |
| 韩槐准 | Han Wai Toon | Hainanese/Hainan |
| 韩瑞生 | Hon Sui Sen | Teochew |
| 何思明 | Ho See Beng | Not available/Nil |
| 洪恭兰 | Ang Keong Lan | Not available/Nil |
| 洪锦池 | Ang Kim Tee | Hokkien |
| 洪锦棠 | Hong Jintang | Hokkien |
| 胡金钟 | Aw Kim Chen | Not available/Nil |
| 胡文豹 | Aw Boon Par | Hakka |
| 胡文虎 | Aw Boon Haw | Hakka |
| 胡亚基 | Hoo Ah Kay | Cantonese/Canton |
| 黄葆芳 | Huang Pao Fang | Hokkien |
| 黄笃修 | Wong Tok Sau | Hokkien |
| 黄桂楠 | Ng Quee Lam Dato | Not available/Nil |
| 黄金辉 | Wee Kim Wee | Not available/Nil |
| 黄麟根 | Wong Lin Ken | Cantonese/Canton |
| 黄曼士 | Huang Mun Se | Hokkien |
| 黄乃裳 | Wong Nai Siong | Hokkien |
| 黄瑞朝 | Wee Swee Teow | Not available/Nil |
| 黄树芬 | Wong Shee Fun | Cantonese/Canton |
| 黄亚福 | Wong Ah Fook | Cantonese/Canton |
| 黄仲涵 | Oei Tiong Ham | Hokkien |
| 黄宗仁 | Wee Chong Jin | Hokkien |
| 柯进来 | Kuah Chin Lai | Hokkien |
| 柯隆美 | Kuah Leong Bee | Not available/Nil |
| 孔天增 | Kung Tian Cheng | Not available/Nil |
| 柯玉芝 | Kwa Geok Choo | Hokkien |
| 李光耀 | Lee Kuan Yew | Hakka |
| 李金塔 | Lee Kim Tah | Hokkien |
| 李俊承 | Lee Choon Seng | Hokkien |
| 李浚源 | Lee Choon Guan | Hokkien |
| 李庆杰 | Lee Keng Kiat | Not available/Nil |
| 李庆炎 | Lee Keng Yam | Not available/Nil |
| 李清渊 | Lee Cheng Yan | Hokkien |
| 李绍茂 | Lee Siow Mong | Teochew |
| 李伟南 | Lee Wee Nam | Teochew |
| 李云龙 | Lee Hoon Leong | Hakka |
| 李振殿 | Lee Chin Tian | Hokkien |
| 李钟珏 | Li Zhongjue | Sanjiang/Sam Kiang |
| 李珠娘 | Lee Choo Neo | Hakka |
| 连士升 | Lian Shisheng | Hokkien |
| 连瀛洲 | Lien Ying Chow | Teochew |
| 梁庆经 | Leong Heng Keng | Cantonese/Canton |
| 梁润之 | Leung Yun Chee | Cantonese/Canton |
| 梁宙 | Neo Tiew | Hokkien |
| 廖正兴 | Liau Chia Heng | Teochew |
| 林秉懋 | Lim Peng Mau | Hokkien |
| 林秉祥 | Lim Peng Siang | Hokkien |
| 林晨 | Lin Chen | Hokkien |
| 林衡南 | Lim Kong Chuan | Hokkien |
| 林继民 | Lim Kee Ming | Teochew |
| 林金山 | Lim Kim San | Hokkien |
| 林浪新 | Lim Nang Seng | Hokkien |
| 林谋盛 | Lim Bo Seng | Hokkien |
| 林师万 | Lim Soo Ban | Hakka |
| 林树彦 | Lim Soo Gan | Teochew |
| 林推迁 | Lim Chwee Chian | Hokkien |
| 林学大 | Lim Hak Tai | Hokkien |
| 林有福 | Lim Yew Hock | Hokkien |
| 林忠邦 | Lim Chong Pang | Teochew |
| 刘金榜 | Low Kim Pong | Hokkien |
| 刘抗 | Liu Kang | Hokkien |
| 刘仁心 | Low Ing Sing | Hokkien |
| 陆寅杰 | Look Yan Kit | Cantonese/Canton |
| 陆佑 | Loke Yew | Cantonese/Canton |
| 陆运涛 | Loke Wan Tho | Cantonese/Canton |
| 欧阳奇 | Owyang Chi (Au Yong Chi) | Teochew |
| 潘受 | Pan Shou | Hokkien |
| 潘醒农 | Phua Chye Long | Teochew |
| 邱德拔 | Khoo Teck Puat | Hokkien |
| 邱菽园 | Khoo Seok Wan | Hokkien |
| 邱新民 | Chiou Sin Min | Hokkien |
| 邱正忠 | Khoo Cheng Tiong | Hokkien |
| 邱雁宾 | Yow Ngan Pan | Cantonese/Canton |
| 邵仁枚 | Shaw Runme | Sanjiang/Sam Kiang |
| 佘连城 | Seah Liang Seah | Teochew |
| 佘有进 | Seah Eu Chin | Teochew |
| 施香沱 | See Hiang To | Hokkien |
| 宋佛俭 | Song Hoot Kiam | Hokkien |
| 宋旺相 | Song Ong Siang | Hokkien |
| 宋旺裕 | Song Ong Joo | Hokkien |
| 孙炳炎 | Soon Peng Yam | Hokkien |
| 孙崇瑜 | Sng Choon Yee | Hokkien |
| 王邦杰 | Heng Pang Kiat | Teochew |
| 王德霖 | Ong Teck Lim | Hokkien |
| 王鼎昌 | Ong Teng Cheong | Hokkien |
| 王九河 | Ong Kew Ho | Hokkien |
| 王平福 | Ong Peng Hock | Hokkien |
| 王三龙 | Ong Sam Leong | Hokkien |
| 王绍经 | Wee Cheow Keng | Hainanese/Hainan |
| 王文达 | Ong Boon Tat | Hokkien |
| 王有海 | Ong Ewe Hai | Hokkien |
| 吴鸿业 | Goh Hong Giap | Not available/Nil |
| 吴来喜 | Goh Lai Hee | Not available/Nil |
| 吴庆瑞 | Goh Keng Swee | Hokkien |
| 吴胜鹏 | Ng Sing Phang | Cantonese/Canton |
| 吴水阁 | Goh Tjoei Kok | Hokkien |
| 吴秀水 | Goh Siew Swee | Hokkien |
| 吴在炎 | Wu Tsai Yen | Hokkien |
| 萧保龄 | Seow Poh Leng | Hokkien |
| 谢安祥 | Chia Ann Siang | Hokkien |
| 谢荣西 | Chia Eng Say | Hokkien |
| 徐长怀 | Chee Teang Why | Hokkien |
| 许宏博 | Koh Heng Pok | Not available/Nil |
| 许甦吾 | Koh Soh Goh | Hokkien |
| 许云樵 | Hsu Yun Tsiao | Sanjiang/Sam Kiang |
| 薛佛记 | See Hoot Kee | Hokkien |
| 薛茂元 | See Moh Guan | Hokkien |
| 薛荣樾 | See Eng Wat | Hokkien |
| 薛文仲 | See Boon Tiong | Hokkien |
| 薛有礼 | See You Lay | Hokkien |
| 颜永成 | Gan Eng Seng | Hokkien |
| 杨瑞初 | Yang Shui Chor | Cantonese/Canton |
| 杨天恩 | Yeo Thian In | Not available/Nil |
| 姚紫 | Yao Zi | Hokkien |
| 叶畅芬 | Yip Cheong Fun | Cantonese/Canton |
| 叶季允 | Yeh Chi-Yun | Sanjiang/Sam Kiang |
| 叶平玉 | Yap Pheng Geck | Teochew |
| 叶之威 | Yeh Chi Wei | Hokkien |
| 殷碧霞 | Yin Grace Peck Ha | Sanjiang/Sam Kiang |
| 殷雪村 | Yin Suat Chuan | Sanjiang/Sam Kiang |
| 余东璇 | Eu Tong Sen | Cantonese/Canton |
| 云英杰 | Wan Eng Kiat | Not available/Nil |
| 曾锦文 | Chan Kim Boon | Hokkien |
| 章芳琳 | Cheang Hong Lim | Hokkien |
| 张汉三 | Teo Han Sam | Teochew |
| 张礼千 | Chang Lee Chien | Sanjiang/Sam Kiang |
| 张梦生 | Chong Moong Seng | Hakka |
| 张汝器 | Tchang Ju Chi | Teochew |
| 赵玉山 | Chao Yoke San | Hainanese/Hainan |
| 郑古悦 | Tay Koh Yat | Hokkien |
| 郑章远 | Teh Cheang Wan | Hokkien |
| 周如切 | Chew Joo Chiat | Hokkien |
| 周润亨 | Chew Joon Hiang | Not available/Nil |
| 周文礼 | Chew Boon Lay | Hokkien |
| 周星衢 | Chou Sing Chu | Sanjiang/Sam Kiang |
| 周镇豪 | Chew Teng How | Teochew |
| 周子敬 | Chew Choo Keng | Hokkien |
| 庄庆利 | Ching Keng Lee | Hokkien |
| 庄竹林 | Chuang Chu Lin | Hokkien |
| 左秉隆 | Tso Ping Lung | Sanjiang/Sam Kiang |
| 佘松城 | Seah Song Seah | Teochew |
| 陈谦福 | Tan Kheam Hock | Hokkien |
| 陈锡九 | Tan Siak Kew | Teochew |
| 黄敏 | Wee Bin | Hokkien |
| 林路 | Lim Loh | Hokkien |
| 陈国朝 | Tan Koh Teou | Hokkien |
| 王水斗 | Ong Chwee Tow | Hokkien |
| 陈芳岁 | Tan Hong Suay | Hokkien |
| References: | ||
| Kow, K. Y. C. (2008). Names in multilingual-multicultural Malaysia. Names, 56(1), 47–53. https://doi.org/10.1179/175655008X287311 | ||
| National University of Singapore, & Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations. (n.d.). Singapore Biographical Database. Retrieved October 2, 2026, from https://sbdb.nus.edu.sg/ | ||
| Google. (2026). Gemini (Oct 2 version) [Large language model]. https://gemini.google.com |
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