Ko (), also variously romanized Go, Goh, or Koh, is a common Korean surname.
Among Koreans with this surname, the largest clan is the , named for its bon-gwan (clan hometown) of Jeju Island; they claim descent from , the first ruler of the kingdom of Tamna, which ruled Jeju until being absorbed by the Joseon dynasty.
Origin According to the Samguk Sagi, the Goguryeo royal family claimed descent from the mythical god Gao Yang, who was the grandson of the Yellow Emperor of Chinese mythology, and thus took the surname of "Go" (高);Samguk Sagi volume 28Classical Chinese:髙句麗亦以髙辛氏之後, 姓髙氏 見晉書載記。— 三國史記 卷二十八 百濟本紀 第六 however, this legend was discredited in the commentaries () by Kim Pusik, the compiler of the Samguk Sagi, who concluded that both Baekje and Goguryeo originated from Buyeo.
Liaoyang (Hanja: 遼陽) based Go (Hanja: 高) family is The Royal of Goguryeo, Northern Yan ruler Gao Yun (Hanja: 高雲), Tang dynasty general Gao Xianzhi (Hanja: 高仙芝) has Goguryeo origin. In South Korea, Hoengseong Go clan is also descended from the Royal dynasty of Goguryeo and the clan's genealogy book specifies Dongmyeong of Goguryeo as the direct ancestor.
Statistics According to the 2000 South Korean census, there were 435,839 people in 135,488 households with this surname. Among these, 325,950 people in 100,954 households were members of the Jeju Go clan. In a study based on a sample of applications for South Korean passports in 2007, 67.5% chose to spell it as Ko, 18.3% as Go, and 11.4% as Koh.
Go or Goh Go Ah-sung (born 1992), South Korean actress Go Ara (born 1990), South Korean actress and model Go Bo-gyeol (born 1988) South Korean actress Go Bong-jae (born 1993), South Korean professional baseball pitcher Go Dae-woo (born 1987), South Korean footballer Go Doo-shim (born 1951), South Korean actress Go Eun-bi (1992–2014), South Korean singer and member of Ladies' Code Go Hui-dong (1886–1965), South Korean painter Go Hyun-jung (born 1971), South Korean actress Go Jae-hyun (born 1999), South Korean footballer Go Jin-won (born 1956), South Korean wrestler Go Joo-won (born 1981), South Korean actor Go Jung-gi (stage name Junggigo, born 1980), South Korean singer Goh Kun (born 1938), South Korean politician, former Prime Minister of South Korea and former Acting President of South Korea. Go Kyung-pyo (born 1990), South Korean actor Go Min-si (born 1995), South Korean actress Go Seul-ki (born 1986), South Korean footballer Go Soo (born 1978), South Korean actor Go Tae-seob (stage name Holland, born 1996), South Korean singer Go Woo-ri (born 1988), South Korean actress and singer, former member of girl group Rainbow Go Yo-han (born 1988), South Korean footballer Go Yoon-hwan (stage name Ryeoun, born 1998), South Korean actor Go Youn-ha (born 1988), South Korean singer-songwriter and record producer Go Youn-jung (born 1996), South Korean model and actress Go Young-jun (stage name Youngjun, born 1978), South Korean singer, member of Brown Eyed Soul Goh Young-jun (born 2001), South Korean footballer
Ko or Koh Ko Chang-seok (born 1970), South Korean actor Koh Chun-son (born 1954), North Korean long-distance runner Koh Young-hee (born 1958), North Korean solo dancer and choreographer Koh Dong-Jin (born 1961), South Korean businessman, former CEO of Samsung E. J. Koh (born 1988), American writer and translator Koh Gou Young (born 1957), South Korean biologist Harold Hongju Koh (born 1954), American diplomat, lawyer, legal scholar Howard Koh (born 1952), former United States Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Ko Hye-in (born 1994), South Korean ice hockey player Ko Hyeong-ryeol (born 1954), South Korean poet Ko Hyung-jin (born 1982), South Korean football referee Ko Im-pyo (born 1962), South Korean film editor Irene Koh (born 1990), South Korean-born comics artist in the United States Ko Jae-hyo (born 1980), South Korean former footballer Ko Jae-sung (born 1985), South Korean footballer Ko Jae-wook (born 1951), South Korean football manager and former player Jennifer Koh (born 1976), American violinist Ko Jeong-woon (born 1966), South Korean football manager and former player Ko Ji-yong (born 1980), South Korean singer and businessman, former member of boy band Sechs Kies Ko Jong-soo (born 1978), South Korean football coach and former player Ko Joo-yeon (born 1994), South Korean actress Ko Kwang-min (field hockey) (born 1981), South Korean field hockey player Ko Kwang-min (footballer) (born 1988), South Korean footballer Ko Kyu-pil (born 1982), South Korean actor Lea Ko (born 1988), American legal scholar Lucy Koh (born 1968), American judge Lydia Ko (born 1997), South Korea-born New Zealand golfer Ko Moo-yeol (born 1990), South Korean footballer Ko Myeong-seok (born 1995), South Korean professional footballer Koh Myong-jin (born 1988), South Korean footballer Ko San (born 1976), South Korean entrepreneur Ko Seung-beom (born 1994), South Korean footballer Ko Seung-wan (born 1981), South Korean curler Ko So-young (born 1972), South Korean actress and model Koh Suk-chang (born 1963), South Korean handball player Ko Sung-hee (born 1990), Korean-American actress Ko Sung-hyun (born 1987), South Korean badminton player Ko Sung-kuk (born 1955), South Korean political scientist Ko Tae-won (born 1993), South Korean footballer Ko Un (born 1933), South Korean poet Ko Yong-hui (1952–2004), North Korean dancer and mother of Kim Jong-un
See also List of Korean surnames Korean name
References