Trace the Roots of Every Chinese Family Name

The Wo clan, a 3000-year-old Chinese surname, possibly originated from King Woding of the Shang Dynasty or the place Wozhou, with its main historical proliferation center in the Yangtze River basin and prominent families based in Taiyuan.

Ranked #356

The Li surname, with origins tracing to Laozi and fiefdoms in Chu and Jin, primarily grew in Henan. It has multiple roots, including from the Xianbei tribe, and is not among China's top 100 surnames.

Ranked #357

The Wei surname, pronounced "wèi", originates from two main sources: the fief of Weiyi granted to a Zhou prince, and the place name Weizhou. The clan's founder was Prince Pian, and it prospered in the north, with its prominent branch in Langya Commandery (modern Shandong). It is not a top-100 surname in China or Taiwan.

Ranked #358

The Yue surname, originating from Yu the Great, has three main sources: descendants of the Yue State's royalty, King Goujian of Yue, and Northern Xianbei tribes who sinicized their names. It flourished in Jinyang and is historically linked to ancient states and notable figures like Yue Shifu.

Ranked #359

The Kuí clan is an ancient Chinese surname with multiple origins, including from the Yiwei and Mi clans, and Mongolian sinicization. It traces back to figures like music director Kuí and Chu state ruler Xiong Zhi, historically centered in Jingzhao. The clan spread modestly, with notable members like Kuí An of Later Zhao.

Ranked #360

The Long surname, pronounced "lóng," has dual origins from a place in the Lu state and the Xiongnu tribe, with ancestor Long Jiang. Historically centered in Nanyang, its descendants are known for integrity, as exemplified by figures like Long Ying and Long Guangzu.

Ranked #361

The Shi surname, not among China's top 100, originates from ancient musical officials and musicians, with key ancestral regions in Taiyuan, Langya, and Pingyuan. Its roots derive from official titles, musical skills, and personal names.

Ranked #362

The Gong clan, an ancient Chinese surname, originated from the Zhou Dynasty official Gong Jian Gong in Henan's Gong County. It has multiple origins, including a Ji clan fiefdom, Qiang tribes, and Jin State descendants, with key settlements in Shandong and Jiangsu.

Ranked #363

The surname Shè, pronounced "shè", has ancient origins from official titles and ethnic tribes like Xianbei and Qiang, with key historical distribution in Zhejiang's Songyang, Kuocang, and Henan's Luoyang, and is linked to figures such as Han Dynasty's Ku Jun.

Ranked #364

The Nie surname, pronounced niè, has ancient origins in Henan and Shandong with theories linking it to the Jiang or Ji families, a place called Niebei, or later ethnic adoption. It spread from northern China, with its prominent Hedong lineage, to the south and is now found among Han, Manchu, and Tujia peoples.

Ranked #365

The Chao surname, with origins in the Ji, Shi, and Ying lineages, historically flourished in the Jingzhao, Nanyang, and Yingchuan regions. It is a less common Chinese surname, with notable historical figures including the Western Han politician Chao Cuo.

Ranked #366

The ancient Gou surname, originating from official titles and the mythical figure Goumang, is historically linked to Pingyang and Bohai commanderies. To avoid imperial taboo during the Southern Song Dynasty, it was sometimes changed to "Jiu".

Ranked #367

The Ao surname, pronounced áo, originated from ancient descendants of Tai Ao and deposed Chu rulers. Its prominent clan settled in Qiao Jun (modern Anhui). The name signifies a lineage of historical resilience and scholarly defiance, as seen in Song dynasty figure Ao Taosun.

Ranked #368

The Rong surname, descended from the ancient fire deity Zhu Rong, originates from the Gaoyang clan of Emperor Zhuanxu. Its historical distribution centers on Nankang and Gaoyang commanderies, with the name deriving from Zhu Rong, whose descendants split into the Zhu and Rong families.

Ranked #369

The Leng surname, pronounced "lěng", has origins tracing back to the state of Wei, the Yellow Emperor's music official Ling Lun, and various ethnic groups. Historically distributed in Jingzhao, Xincai, and Lian'an commanderies, it is not among the top 100 surnames in China or Taiwan.

Ranked #370

The Zi surname, pronounced zǐ, is an ancient Chinese surname with multiple origins including place names, tribal names, and surname modifications from Ji or Jiang. It primarily originated from the Central Plains 3000 years ago, flourished in Bohai Commandery, and honors Ji Bo as its ancestor.

Ranked #371

The Xin surname originated from ancient Chinese states and place names, with key ancestral roots in Longxi and Yamen commanderies. It evolved from surnames like Shen and Gaoxin, spreading from Shaanxi throughout China during various dynasties while producing notable officials and scholars.

Ranked #372

The Kan clan, originating from Shandong's Wenshang, descends from Jiang Ziya and Spring & Autumn official Kan Zhi. It has two main origins from fiefs/states named Kan, with ancestral distribution in Tianshui and Kuiji commanderies, later migrating to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Taiwan, and Beijing.

Ranked #373

The Nà surname, pronounced 'nā', originated in the Spring and Autumn period from the place name Nako. Its prominent clans were based in Danyang, Jingzhao, and Tianshui, with historical figures including Ming official Nà Song and Qing dynasty Governor Nà Yancheng.

Ranked #374

The Jian clan surname, pronounced jiǎn, has ancient origins from the Ji and Geng surnames, with ancestral roots in Fanyang/Zhuo Commandery. Its founder is considered Xu Jianbo, and the clan, descended from the Yellow Emperor, later migrated to regions like Taiwan, Fujian, and Guangdong.

Ranked #375