The She Family Name#

Family Name: She (shé) Pronunciation: shé

Regions Where the She Family Name is Found#

• Yanmen Commandery: Established during the Warring States period by King Wuling of Zhao. It was continued during the Qin and Han dynasties, with its administrative center in Shanwu (now Youyu, Shanxi). Its jurisdiction covered areas around present-day Hequ, Wuzhai, Ningwu, and Daixian in Shanxi Province.
• Xincai Commandery: Originally part of the Lü State during the Zhou dynasty, corresponding to the area of present-day Xincai in Henan Province.
• Xinzheng Commandery: Corresponds to present-day Xinzheng City in Henan Province.

Origins of the She Family Name#

The She family name has several origins:

1. Derived from the "Renhuang" clan, a descendant of one of the ancient Three Sovereigns, and is a surname based on the name of an ancestor.
2. Derived from the Ji surname, originating from Ji Taibo, the eldest son of the ancient Duke of Zhou. This is a surname based on the name of a residence.
3. Also derived from the Ji surname, stemming from You Yu, a minister of the Qin state during the Spring and Autumn period. The name evolved through phonetic changes.
4. Originated from a place name, referring to the ancient Tushan in the East Sea region, and is a surname based on the name of a residence.
5. Derived from the Gui surname, originating from a descendant of the ancient Three Sovereigns during the Eastern Jin dynasty. Some changed their surname as a form of refuge.
6. Result of a name change, with Wu Wanan, a descendant of the Wu family during the Ming dynasty, changing his surname for refuge.
7. There are many theories about the origin of the She surname, but most believe it was granted by an emperor. In the early Western Jin dynasty (266 AD), General Yu Zhaoyuan, a brave and skilled warrior under Emperor Wu of Jin, was granted the surname She for his outstanding military achievements. This marks the first appearance of the She surname in Chinese history, which has now lasted for 1,700 years.

Ancestors of the She Family Name: Ji Taibo (Wu Taibo), You Yu, Yu Feng (She Wan), Wu Wanan, She Xian (Wu Xian), She Xing (Wu Xing)

Migration and Distribution

The She surname is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. Historical records suggest that the She surname evolved from the You surname. According to the "Xing Yuan" (A Garden of Surnames), it primarily spread in Xin'an, which is now She County, Anhui Province. The first notable person with the She surname in Chinese history was She Qin, a scholar from the Tang dynasty. Since She Qin was from Nanchang, it is inferred that the She surname spread relatively early. The ancestors of the She family, like those of the You surname, likely played a significant role in the unification of China by the Qin state.

Hometowns of the She Family: The She family's heritage is associated with places such as Yanmen Pass in Shanxi Province, Xincai and Xinzheng in Henan Province.

Genealogy and Hometown Associations: Genealogy texts from the Song dynasty mention that many She people came from the Nanchang area. During the Tang and Song dynasties, the She surname spread to places like Putian, Xianyou, and Quanzhou in Fujian Province, as well as Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Hunan, and Guangdong. She family halls often bear the inscription "Yanmen Derivation," indicating their ancestry from the Yanmen region in Shanxi. The She surname is particularly prominent in Xincai (now Xincai County, Henan Province) and Xinzheng (central Henan Province).

Notable People with the She Surname:

• She Shiheng: A famous collector from the Ming dynasty, known for his works such as " Shanren Ji," "Jiyou Lu," and "She Shanren Shi Ji."
• She Qiao: A renowned writer from the Ming dynasty, known for his poetry and prose. His works include "Cuiwei Ji," "Fuzhai Ji," and other literary works, as well as plays like "Suogu Bodhisattva" and the legendary story "Liangjiang Ji."