Choi is a Korean family surname. As of the South Korean census of 2015, there were around 2.3 million people by this name in South Korea or roughly 4.7% of the population. In English-speaking countries, it is most often anglicized Choi, and sometimes also Chey, Choe or Chwe. Ethnic Koreans in the former USSR prefer the form Tsoi (Tsoy) especially as a transcription of the Cyrillic Цой. Origin According to Samguk Sagi, the Gyeongju clan originates from chief Sobeoldori (소벌도리, 蘇伐都利) of Goheochon (고허촌, 高墟村), one of six villages that united to found Silla; The Gyeongju clan traces their origin back to Choi Chiwon (857–10th century), a noted Korean scholar, philosopher, and poet of the late Unified Silla period (668–935). One theory of origin suggests that Haeju clan's progenitor Choi Choong (최충, 崔沖, 984–1068) was given the surname 崔 during the reign of Goryeo king Mokjong. The progenitor of the Chungju clan is General Choi Seung (최승, 崔陞), also known as Choi Woo (최우, 崔偶), of Silla (known as Cui Sheng in the Tang dynasty) The progenitor of the Nangju clan is Choi Heun (최흔, 崔昕) of Silla who was a native of Yeongam (Nangju) of the southern Jeolla region. Choi Ri (최리, 崔理), who was known as the leader of the Kingdom of Nakrang Clans There are roughly 160 clans of Chois. Most of these are quite small. However, Choi is the 4th most common surname in Korea. The largest by far is the Gyeongju Choi clan, with a 2000 South Korean population of 976,820. The Gyeongju Choe claim the Silla scholar Choe Chi-won as their founder. Gyeongju clan – Choe Chiwon Jeonju clan – Choe Bu Dongju clan Haeju clan – Choe Chung Saknyeong clan – Choe Hang, Choi Byung Ju (founding member modern era Korean Supreme Court) Gangneung clan Hwasun clan Ganghwa clan Yeongcheon clan Tamjin clan Ubong clan – Choe Hang Suwaon clan Yeongheung clan Suseong clan Chungju Choe clan Goesan clan – Choe Sejin Heunghae clan Yeongam clan Taein clan Etymology Choi (Hangul: 최) is written with the Hanja character 崔, meaning "a governor who oversees the land and the mountain". The surname Choi also means “mountain”. Choi (崔), originally written in Hanja, is derived from the combination of 2 ancient Chinese characters: is a pictogram symbolizing the mountains; is a pictogram symbolizing a bird. Pronunciation In Korean, 최 is usually pronounced "Chwe" or “Chey”