Trace the Roots of Every Chinese Family Name

The Lu surname, with origins in the Qin and Chu states and the Xianbei people, is a historic Han Chinese name. It spread through ancient commanderies like Guangping and Linhe, and was adopted by various ethnic groups, ranking outside China's top 300 surnames.

Ranked #396

The Gai surname, a historic Chinese clan with ~246,000 people, has diverse origins from Qi nobility, ethnic minorities, and key ancestral commanderies like Yuyang, Anyang, and Runan, with notable figures from the Han and Tang dynasties.

Ranked #397

The Yi surname, with founding patriarch Boyi, originates from ancient Chinese place names like Yizhou and Yidu, or the Ying clan. Historically distributed in regions like Fengyi and Chengyang, it is not among the top 100 surnames today.

Ranked #398

The Jing Clan, an ancient Chinese surname with multiple origins including the Mi and Jiang lineages, traces its progenitor to Xiong Yi of the Chu state. Ranked 287th in common surnames, it has approximately 230,000 members, primarily concentrated in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Henan, and Heilongjiang. Historically significant figures include the assassin Jing Ke and the painter Jing Hao.

Ranked #398

The Huan clan, with origins tracing back to a Yellow Emperor minister, the Jiang and Zi clans, and the Xianbei people, originated from Qiao Commandery. It is a historically significant surname, though not among the most common, known for its statesmen and generals throughout Chinese history.

Ranked #399

The Gong surname, derived from the Ji lineage during the Zhou Dynasty, originated from Duke Ding of Lu's brothers Gongyan and Gongwei. It is not among China's top 100 surnames and has historical ties to Kuocang and Mengyin counties.

Ranked #400

The Jin surname, of Han Chinese origin, derives from the state of Jin, founded by Shuyu of Tang, and from official roles or professions. Historically linked to the Pingyang and Guo commanderies, it is not among the top 300 surnames in China today.

Ranked #401

The Chu surname, originating from the Chu state or ancestors like Xiong Yi, has diverse roots including Mi and Ji lineages, ethnic adoptions, and name changes. Historically significant during the Spring and Autumn period, its population, now around 280,000, is concentrated in Henan, Hebei, and Sichuan, with hall names like Jiangling reflecting its heritage.

Ranked #402

The surname Fa, pronounced "fǎ", is a multi-origin Chinese surname. It originated from King Fa Zhang of Qi, whose descendants adopted "Fa" after Qi's fall. Other origins include Hui, Khitan, Mongol, and Manchu peoples, and Han-era official titles. It is not a top surname and is historically associated with Fufeng Commandery.

Ranked #403

The Ru surname, an ancient Han Chinese name, originates from Henan's Ruzhou/Ru River, with roots in the Ji and Si clans of the Eastern Zhou and Shang dynasties. It is sparsely distributed across various Chinese provinces like Henan, Anhui, Gansu, and internationally in Nigeria.

Ranked #404

The Yan surname, pronounced yān, is an ancient Chinese family name with multiple origins from states, residences, and ethnic groups. Its ancestral regions are Fanyang and Taiyuan Commanderies, and it is now distributed across China, though not among the top 100 surnames.

Ranked #405

The Tu surname, with origins including the Zi family, place names, and ethnic minorities, is historically associated with regions like Yuzhang and Nanchang in Jiangxi. Its founding ancestor was Tu Qin, and the family has notable halls like Yuzhang and Wuguai, along with distinguished figures such as Tu Meng and Tu Tianshang.

Ranked #406

The Qin surname, with origins in ancient tribes, place names, and imperial grants, is a multi-source clan historically distributed across Hejian, Wu, and Qinzhou commanderies. It is relatively rare today, with notable descendants including Qing Dynasty figures like Qin Shan and Qin Lian.

Ranked #407

The Gou surname is an ancient Chinese clan with multiple origins including official titles, professions, and ethnic tribes, historically centered in Zhongshan, Taiyuan, and Chenliu commanderies, and currently distributed across various regions in China.

Ranked #408

The Kang surname has diverse origins from place names, officials, and fiefs, with key ancestral commanderies in Wuwei and Taiyuan. Historically significant, it has multiple lineages and is distributed across China, though not among the top surnames.

Ranked #409

The Kuang surname, an ancient Han Chinese name, originates from Yu Gonglie of the Zhou Dynasty. It is distributed through commanderies like Jiujiang and Runan, with major populations in Jiangxi's Gaoan and Taiwan, and is associated with various regional hall names.

Ranked #410

The You surname, a rare Chinese name with ancient origins like the Youchao clan, primarily hails from Donghai and has multiple sources including ministerial grants and ethnic adoption, now held by roughly 3000 people.

Ranked #411

The Shang surname is an ancient, multi-ethnic Chinese clan, ranking 244th nationally, originating from nobility of the Shang Dynasty and figures like Shang Yang. Historically distributed across commanderies like Runan, it spread from northern China southward over dynasties, with notable descendants including mathematician Shang Gao and philosopher Shang Yang.

Ranked #412

The Mu surname, pronounced "móu", is an ancient Chinese surname with multiple origins including the state of Mu, official titles, and ethnic assimilation. It originated in Shandong, ranks 149th in mainland China, and has a population of approximately 984,000. Key ancestral figures include Zhu Rong and Lu Zhong.

Ranked #413

The She surname, with origins in ancient clans, place names, and imperial grants, historically spread from commanderies like Yanmen, Xincai, and Xinzheng across China, with notable figures emerging from the Tang and Ming dynasties.

Ranked #414