Ma

Origin & History

The Ma surname is strongly associated with China's Muslim Hui community and derives from a phonetic rendering of 'Muhammad' (马哈麻 / Mahamá) brought by Arab and Persian traders along the Silk Road. An older lineage traces the name to Ma Fu, a descendant of King Hui of Zhao, who received the Ma surname for his excellence in horsemanship. The character 馬 means horse, a symbol of speed and nobility.