The Chong Family Name#

Family Name: Chong#

Pronunciation: chōng

Distribution of the Chong Family Name#

Taiyuan Commandery: Established during the Warring States period by the Qin dynasty. The administrative center was Jinyang, located in the southwest of present-day Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province.

Origin of the Chong Family Name#

The Chong family name has two origins:

1. It originates from an official position called “Chong Ren” (充人), which was a role during the Zhou dynasty. This position was part of the local administration (dì guān) and was responsible for raising the animals used in sacrificial ceremonies. According to historical records, sacrificial ceremonies were of great importance in ancient times, and the court needed a large number of animals for offerings to the heavens, earth, and ancestors. The title “Chong Ren” (meaning “to nurture”) was often used for lower-ranking officials. Those who held this position hereditarily adopted it as their surname.
2. It also originates from the Jiang family name; a descendant of a noble from the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period named Chong Lu adopted his ancestor’s name as his surname.

Founder of the Chong Family Name#

The founder of the Chong family name is Chong Lu. The Chong family name originated in the Spring and Autumn period from a noble named Chong Lu. Chong Lu’s ancestor was Jiang Taigong, a famous contributor to the founding of the Zhou dynasty. Therefore, Chong Lu is revered as the progenitor of the Chong family.

Distribution of the Chong Family#

The Chong family name is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. It originates from the Jiang family. In ancient times, Jiang Taigong assisted King Wu of Zhou in defeating King Zhou of Shang and establishing the Western Zhou dynasty. Later, Jiang Taigong was granted a fief in the State of Qi. A descendant of Jiang Taigong named Chong Lu adopted this name as his surname.

Other Origins of the Chong Family Name#

Another theory suggests that the Chong family name comes from an official position called “Chong Ren” during the Zhou dynasty, which was responsible for managing sacrificial animals. Some of these officials held this position hereditarily, leading them to adopt it as their surname.

Clans and Origins of the Chong Family Name#

Most Chong family clans originate from Taiyuan Commandery (in the southwest of present-day Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province). Although the number of Chong family members is not large, the surname has a long history dating back thousands of years.

Common Couplets for Chong Family Ancestral Halls#

Here are some common couplets used in Chong family ancestral halls:

• Four-character couplets:
  • “The family lineage begins with Chong Lu; noble descendants praised in the imperial court.” (Alluding to the origins of the Chong family name.)
  • “Virtuous men and noble descendants; immortals in the Han dynasty.” (Referencing Chong Yu, a disciple of Mencius during the Warring States period, and Chong Shang from the Qin dynasty.)
  • “The virtues of immortals passed down through generations; a great disciple of the quasi-sage.” (Referencing Chong Shang from the Qin dynasty and his contribution to immortality.)
• Seven-character couplets:
  • “The lineage of ‘Chong Ren’ dates back to the Zhou dynasty; the noble lineage of the State of Qi.” (Referencing the official position of “Chong Ren” and its historical significance.)
  • “The fame of the Chong family originated from the Zhou royal family; the virtues of the nobles of the State of Qi.” (Highlighting the Chong family’s historical roots.)

The Chong family name has a rich heritage, with roots dating back thousands of years, and its members can be found throughout China and Taiwan.