Quick Answer: What Is the Ma Surname?
The Ma surname（马／馬，mǎ）is a Chinese family name read with a third tone in Mandarin. The character also means horse.[1]
- Writing: 马 is simplified; 馬 is traditional.[2]
- Formation: One traditional account derives Ma from a longer name, Mafu.[4]
- Spellings: Ma and Mah occur in personal records.[7][8]
A Ma surname alone cannot establish religion, ethnic identity or a connection to one ancient ancestor.
The horse meaning is easy to recognize, but it does not explain every family’s history. Reading Ma involves separating the written character, traditional surname accounts, Muslim naming connections and the spelling preserved in a particular person’s documents.
The Character 马/馬 and Its Pronunciation
In Mandarin, mǎ carries a third tone, conventionally described as dipping. Its ordinary horse meaning and its use as an inherited surname are separate dictionary senses.[1]
The second-tone Ma surname（麻，má）is a different written name. In an English index without tone marks, both may appear as Ma; the original character resolves the ambiguity.[1][3]
2019 mainland rank: 13th.[9]
The Mafu Tradition and Other Naming Routes
A longstanding account links Ma to Zhao She（赵奢／趙奢，zhào shē）and his title Mafu Jun（马服君／馬服君，mǎfú jūn）. In this account, the Mafu surname（马服／馬服，mǎfú）was subsequently shortened to Ma. The route concerns a title-derived family name, rather than an occupation inferred from the horse character.[4]
This explanation appears in a pre-modern essay on restoring a family’s surname. It records a genealogical tradition; it does not supply connected generations linking every present-day Ma household to Zhao She.[4]
Ma, Muslim Families and Hui Identity
Ma is common among Hui（回族，huí zú）families, an important context within Hui culture.[6]
One Muslim naming route links Ma with a syllable adapted from Muhammad. Other recorded routes include taking the surname of a Han Chinese（汉族／漢族，hàn zú）wife. These are examples of name adoption, rather than proof that every Ma family shares one religious or genealogical background.[5]
A family name is not a reliable way to decide whether someone currently practices Islam. Ask about the person’s own identification when that information is relevant.
Ma and Mah in Personal Records
Two documented examples show how the surname appears in Roman letters:
- Ma: Ma Ying-jeou（马英九／馬英九，mǎ yīngjiǔ）appears under this spelling in the presidential archive’s English biography, paired with his Chinese name in its Chinese version.[8]
- Mah: Mah Bow Tan（马宝山／馬寶山，mǎ bǎoshān）is paired with 马宝山 in a bilingual university profile.[7]
Keep these personal spellings when recording or searching the names.
How to Compare Ma Family Records
- Copy the full Chinese name, distinguishing 马／馬 from 麻.
- Retain the document’s Ma or Mah spelling; add alternatives as search terms without rewriting the original.
- Compare relatives, dates and hometowns before merging records with similar names.
- Trace connected generations before attaching your household to the Mafu tradition or another named lineage.
FAQs About the Ma Surname
Does Every Ma Family Descend from Zhao She?
The Mafu account is a traditional explanation, not a complete pedigree for all bearers. A particular household needs its own connected records before claiming that descent.[4]
Is Everyone Named Ma Muslim?
No. The surname has different formation and adoption accounts. Its association with Muslim naming traditions cannot establish an individual’s religion.[4][5]
Are 马 and 麻 the Same Surname?
No. 马／馬 is mǎ with a third tone; 麻 is má with a second tone. Unmarked Roman letters conceal this distinction.[1][3]
Sources
[1] Ministry of Education. Concised Mandarin Chinese Dictionary: 馬
[2] Ministry of Education. Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants: 馬
[3] Ministry of Education. Concised Mandarin Chinese Dictionary: 麻
[4] Song Lian, reproduced in Gu Jin Tu Shu Ji Cheng. Preface on Restoring the Ma Surname
[5] Rosey Wang Ma. Chinese Muslims: Identity and Culture, Names Slide (2010)
[6] State Ethnic Affairs Commission, reproduced by Shanghai’s ethnic and religious affairs bureau. Hui: Community History and Names
[7] Nanyang Technological University. Mah Bow Tan: Bilingual Profile
[8] Office of the President. Ma Ying-jeou: English and Chinese Biography Versions
[9] Ministry of Public Security, reproduced by Cemingzi. 2019 National Names Report