Surname Fai - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Fai: What does the surname Fai mean?
The last name Fai is of Chinese origin, specifically from the Cantonese dialect. It is derived from the Chinese surname Fang, one of the Top 100 common last names in China, and in Cantonese, Fai means “temporary”. This likely originally was meant to imply that the family lived in an area only temporarily, which could have been brought about either because of relocation or displacement.
Traditionally, the family was likely involved in agricultural work. Because of the area's subtropical climate and its proximity to the sea, Fai families were likely involved in fishing and farming activities. They also may have been involved in some trading or even piracy, due to the area's location near the South China Sea.
Today, the last name Fai is used by people all around the world. It has been adopted as a surname by people of many different ethnicities, due to the common surname Fang being shared by different languages. This makes it a very diverse and widespread name, with many different spellings and variations, such as Fei, Foy, Poy, and Phoo.
With its history steeped in tradition and its modern-day diversity, the last name Fai remains a popular choice throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisFai: Where does the name Fai come from?
The last name Fai is most commonly found in Chinese and Southeast Asian countries today. It is widely used in mainland China and Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia. In mainland China, it is the 37th most common surname, which is quite high given the vast variety of Chinese surnames. In Vietnam, Fai is the 160th most common surname. It is also one of the top 1000 surnames found in Singapore, where it ranks 428th.
In North America, Fai is primarily found among Chinese and South East Asian immigrants from these countries. It is most common in California and the Greater Toronto Area in southern Ontario. It is also found in smaller numbers in other parts of Canada and in the United States, especially in areas with large Chinese-American and Southeast Asian-American populations.
Beyond these areas, Fai is also found in other parts of the world where Chinese or Southeast Asian immigrants have settled, such as Dubai, South Africa and Britain. There are also Fai individuals who can trace their ancestors to other countries, such as Japan and Indonesia, though the surname is much less common.
Variations of the surname Fai
The surname Fai is of English origin, and is primarily associated with families from the counties of Norfolk and Yorkshire. Common variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Fay, Fays, Faie, Fane, Fain and Faye.
The Fai family is likely descended from the Fayes of Norfolk, who were recorded as having the surname in the 11th century as part of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Fayes are believed to be descended from the de La Fays, who were recorded in Normandy as early as the 9th century.
Since then, the Fai family has spread across the world. In the United States, the Fai family can be found included among immigrants from the British Isles - especially those from Yorkshire. The name can also be found among Spanish, French, and Portuguese communities, as the spelling LaFai is particularly associated with Hispanic communities.
At different points in history, different variations of the surname were in use. For example, in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, Fie and Fey were variations upon the Fai surname which can be found in records from that period.
In Ireland, the Fai family can trace its roots to a scout of William the Conqueror, who was a direct ancestor to the Viscounts of Macgillicuddy. The Macgillicuddy family was known by three variations of the Fai surname - Faye, Fay and Faie - through this bloodline.
Today, the various spellings, surnames, and variants of the Fai family remain scattered across the world, from the British Isles, to Europe, North America, and beyond.
Famous people with the name Fai
- Leon Lai: Hong Kong singer, actor, and film producer
- Jennifer Lai: Taiwanese singer
- Lee Siu-fai: Hong Kong actor
- Chow Yun-fat: Hong Kong actor
- Kenneth Fok Kai-Ming: Hong Kong businessman
- Zhang Yimou: Chinese filmmaker
- Lee Fai-pang: Hong Kong martial artist
- Michael Fok: Taiwanese singer
- Anita Fai Tak-Huei: Hong Kong singer
- Crystal Fung: Hong Kong actress
- Shu Fai Pun: Hong Kong actor
- Louis Koo: Hong Kong actor
- Choi Fai: Hong Kong actress
- Tsui Siu-fai: Hong Kong actor
- Patrick Tse: Hong Kong actor
- Wu Fai: Hong Kong actor
- Cheung Tat-Ming: Hong Kong actor and singer
- Lai Man-Wai: Hong Kong filmmaker
- Marlon Fai: Hong Kong actor
- Hui Man-Fai: Hong Kong actor and singer