Posted on: General China Query Forum Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/China/General?read=209 Surname: ------------------------- Ah, in southern Mandarin and southern dialects, is usualy addded to a charcter of the given name, denoting a closer sort of friendship. Thus Ah Fra or whatever, was probably his given name or derived from his given name. It is not unusual with Chinese Immigration to various countries for them to get the surname wrong, especialy since, in Chinese, surnames were placed first. As far as Foa or fra, if it is a surname, it is probably "Hua" in mandarin, meaning flower, or "Fa" meaning prosperity.