Trace the Roots of Every Chinese Family Name

The Yang Clan, with origins in Heshang, Mount Tai, and Jingzhao, has multiple ancestral theories from the Zhou dynasty and Spring and Autumn period, and is known for its historic clan halls like Xianshan and Songxia, reflecting its rich heritage and cultural significance.

Ranked #200

The Yu clan, with origins in ancient officials and place names, is historically distributed across Liyang, Jingzhao, and Guangling commanderies. Notable members include painters Yu Qingyan and Yu Zhuwu, minister Yu Lun, and novelist Yu Lihua, with ancestral halls like Jiumin Hall commemorating their legacy.

Ranked #201

The Hui surname, pronounced "huì", has ancient origins from figures like Hui Lian and posthumous titles of rulers. It primarily originated from the Ji surname, with multiple other derivations, and was historically concentrated in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, south of the Yangtze River.

Ranked #202

The Zhen surname, one of China's oldest surnames with over 4000 years of history, originated from pottery-making and Xianbei tribal adoption, with ancestral roots in Zhongshan Commandery (modern Hebei).

Ranked #203

The Feng surname, originating from ancient Bohai and Fengfu, has evolved from Jiang lineage and Xianbei roots. Historically concentrated in Shandong, it now thrives in Shaanxi, Shandong, and Chongqing, ranking 257th in China with approximately 280,000 bearers accounting for 0.022% of the population.

Ranked #205

The Qu surname, of Ji lineage, originated from the Quwo fief in Shanxi. It spread from its Pingyang and Yanmen commandery heartlands across China, migrating south post-Tang/Song and during Ming relocations, reaching regions like Guangdong and Yunnan.

Ranked #205

The Jia surname, with origins in the Zhou Dynasty and Spring and Autumn period, historically flourished in Jingzhao and Nanan commanderies (modern Shaanxi/Gansu). It later spread to regions like Sichuan and today has a limited population, not ranking in the national top 300.

Ranked #206

The Rui surname, of Ji clan origin, derives from the ancient State of Rui from the Western Zhou period. Its main historical settlements were in the Fufeng (Shaanxi) and Pingyuan (Shandong) commanderies, with a wide distribution across China today.

Ranked #206

The Yi surname, originating from legendary archer Hou Yi of the Xia Dynasty, has two main origins: Chinese (from the Youqiong tribe in Shandong) and Mongolian. It is not among China's top 100 surnames and is primarily distributed in provinces like Liaoning, Hubei, and Taiwan.

Ranked #207

The Chu family, an ancient Chinese surname originating from a Qi official named Chu Zi, has a 3000-year history. Originating in Hedong, its prominence grew during the Song and Ming dynasties, with the population now around 230,000, primarily concentrated in Anhui and Jiangsu.

Ranked #208

The Jin surname, pronounced "jìn", has multiple origins including from the official Jin Shang in the State of Chu, who took his fief's name; from ethnic minorities like the Xiongnu; and from Ming Dynasty name changes. Its ancestral founder is Jin Shang, with prominent lineages from the Hexi region.

Ranked #209

The Ji surname, pronounced jí, originated during China's Spring and Autumn period from two main ancestral lines: descendants of the Ji clan (like King Wen of Zhou) and the Jiang clan (like Duke Xuan of Qi), who adopted the name from their fiefdom, Ji. Historically centered in ancient commanderies like Puyang, Qinghe, and Xihe, the name is now primarily found in China's Henan and Shandong provinces.

Ranked #210

The Bing clan, an ancient Chinese surname, originated from the state of Lu and Pingyang Commandery. Its founding ancestors include figures like Bing Yu from the Spring and Autumn period, with hall names like Cao Shang Tang honoring virtuous members such as Bing Yuan of the Later Han dynasty.

Ranked #211

The Mi Clan, an ancient Chinese surname originating from the Xia Dynasty, is named after the millet crop "mí zǐ" or from fiefs in the Chu state. Historically distributed in Donghai and Runan commanderies, it remains a less common surname today.

Ranked #212

The Song surname, with origins in Dongguan and Taishan commanderies, traces back to officials honored by Qin Shi Huang under pine trees. It has multiple sources, including Manchu conversions and other surname changes, and is an ancient, multi-ethnic surname.

Ranked #213

The Jing Clan is a multi-ethnic Chinese surname with origins in the Zhou Dynasty's Yu state, tracing back to ancestor Jing Bo. It originated from various sources including the Jiang and Ji clans, place names, and a Mongolian lineage. Historically based in Nanyang and Fufeng, the clan migrated widely across China, now ranking 278th with a population of around 234,000.

Ranked #214

The Duan surname, with origins including the Ji clan of Zheng, a Wei state fiefdom, the Liaoxi Xianbei tribe, and Yunnan's Dali Kingdom, historically flourished in commanderies like Jingzhao and Wuwei, spreading from its roots in Henan and Shanxi.

Ranked #215

The Fu Clan, originating from the Zhou official Fu Chen, is a historic Chinese surname with roots in Shandong's Qi County and Henan's Chenliu. It later spread south and evolved into the Manchu Fuca clan, becoming its most populous branch today.

Ranked #216

The Wu Clan, originating from ancient ritual and medical practitioners like founder Wu Peng, historically thrived in the Pingyang area (now Shanxi/Shandong). It later spread south, with members migrating from Guangdong to Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty, where it now ranks as the 85th most common surname.

Ranked #217

The Wu Clan surname originated from Yingchuan, with four main theories: derived from the Ji surname via Shao Hao's "Wu Niao" official title, from the Xirong people's Wu Shi Lan state, from the Xianbei compound surname Wu Shi Lan, or granted to Hui people by Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. Shao Hao is revered as its ancestor.

Ranked #218