The Ni Family#

Surname: Ni, pronounced as “ní”.

Distribution of the Ni Family#

The Ni family originated in Qiancheng Commandery, Shandong Province. The administrative center of Qiancheng was located in what is now Guangrao County, Shandong. The jurisdiction of Qiancheng Commandery included areas such as Boxing, Gaoqing, and Bin County in northern Shandong.

Origin of the Ni Family#

The Ni surname ranks 111st among the most common surnames in China, with a significant population, accounting for approximately 0.14% of the total Han Chinese population.

Origins of the Ni Surname: There are four main origins of the Ni surname:

1. From the Cao surname: A descendant of the Yellow Emperor, Duke Wu of Zhuzhou, took the name of his state as his surname. During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Wu granted his second son a fief in what is now Tengzhou, Shandong, establishing the state of Zhuzhou as a vassal of the Zhou Dynasty. His descendants adopted the name of their state as their surname. When the state of Zhuzhou was destroyed by the Chu Dynasty, they changed their surname to “Er” (pronounced “ní”) to avoid persecution. Later, they removed the “阝” character and added the “亻” character to form the Ni surname. In the early Han Dynasty, there was an official named Ni Kuan, who was a descendant of the Prince Fei.
2. From descendants of Duke Wu of Zhuzhou during the Spring and Autumn period: Some descendants of Duke Wu changed their surname to Ni to avoid revenge. According to historical records, some members of this lineage adopted the Ni surname.
3. From other ethnic groups or minorities: During the Northern Wei Dynasty, the He surname was changed to Ni. During the Qing Dynasty, people from the Manchu Eight Banners also had the Ni surname. Additionally, ethnic groups such as the Manchu, Mongolian, and Tujia also had the Ni surname.
4. From the feudal lord Er Bo of the Shang Dynasty: Er Bo was a feudal lord of the Shang Dynasty, and his descendants took the Ni surname.

Ancestor of the Ni Surname: Ni Kuan was from Qiancheng (now Guangrao County, Shandong) and was a prominent official and hydraulic engineer in the Western Han Dynasty. He served in various positions, including Imperial Censor and Grand Censor, and was known for his contributions to water conservancy projects. Kuan was a descendant of Zhuanxu, who was granted a fief in Zhuzhou during the reign of King Wu of Zhou. When Er Bo’s descendants were granted a fief in the state of Zhuzhou, they adopted the name of their state as their surname. After the state of Zhuzhou was destroyed by the Chu Dynasty, they changed their surname to avoid persecution, and later the Ni surname was formed.

Spread of the Ni Surname: Today, places named “Ercheng” can be found in Tengzhou and Zaozhuang, Shandong Province. These areas were the locations of the state of Er during the Spring and Autumn period and are considered the original birthplaces of the Ni surname. After the destruction of the state of Zhuzhou, the Ni family migrated northward and thrived in the Qiancheng area, becoming a prominent clan there. During the Warring States period, people with the Ni surname could be found in Henan. During the Han and Tang dynasties, the Ni surname became more common in historical records. The Ni surname spread to other regions, including northern Anhui, during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, the Ni surname became even more widespread, with many people recorded in historical documents.

Clan Halls (Tanghao):

1. Qiancheng Clan Hall: Referring to the Qiancheng Commandery where the Ni family originated.
2. Other independently established clan halls: Jingchu, Chujing, Daijing, Yide, Shide, Chengde, Heyi, Jianben, Baoben, Chongben, Airi, Ningyuan, Yongsi, Jiyi, Leshan, Yongmu, Peide, Zhongde, and others.

Notable People with the Ni Surname:

• Ni Si: A scholar and official from Guian, Huzhou (now Wuxing, Zhejiang) during the Song Dynasty, known for his straightforward advice to the emperor.
• Ni Zan: A painter and poet from the Yuan Dynasty, known for his landscape and bamboo paintings.
• Ni Yuanlu: A minister and painter from the Ming Dynasty, skilled in brushwork and landscape painting.

The Ni family has a long and illustrious history, with many notable individuals throughout Chinese history.