The Surname “Shan”#

Surname: Shan, pronounced as “shàn”

Regions Where the Surname “Shan” is Found**#

• The Wei River basin in Longxi, Gansu Province
• The area around Luoyang City, Henan Province

Origins of the Surname “Shan”#

• The current population with the surname “Shan” is approximately 680,000, accounting for about 0.054% of the national population, making it the 177th most common surname in China.

Origins of the Surname “Shan”#

1. Derived from the Ji surname: The name of a town was used as the surname. According to the “Yuanhe Xing Zuan,” King Cheng of Zhou granted his younger son, Zhen, the territory of Shan (located southeast of present-day Mengjin County, Henan Province), and he was made a marquis there, thus adopting the surname “Shan.” This lineage continued through several generations of high-ranking officials during the Zhou Dynasty.
2. Conversion from Multiple Surnames of Northern Ethnic Minorities: According to the “Wei Shu·Guan Shi Zhi,” during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the multiple surnames “Adan” and “Hedan” of the northern tribes were changed to the Han surname “Shan.”

Migration and Distribution**#

• During the Pre-Qin period, the surname “Shan” was primarily found in Henan. In the Song Dynasty, there were about 40,000 people with this surname, accounting for 0.05% of the national population, ranking it after the 200th most common surname, with concentrations in Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanxi, Zhejiang, and Henan.
• In the Ming Dynasty, the population increased to about 56,000, accounting for 0.06% of the national population, ranking it after the 180th most common surname. The main distribution areas were Shandong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, with these three provinces comprising approximately 65% of the total Han population with the surname “Shan.” Jiangsu had the largest population of this surname, accounting for about 29%. Other significant populations were found in Hebei, Guangdong, Anhui, Hunan, and Shanxi.

Current Population and Ranking**#

• The current population with the surname “Shan” is approximately 680,000, accounting for 0.054% of the national population, making it the 177th most common surname.
• Over the past 1,000 years desde the Song Dynasty, the growth rate of the “Shan” surname has been consistent with the national average.
• Jiangsu remains the province with the largest population of this surname, accounting for about 13% of the total. The main distribution areas are Jiangsu, Shandong, Anhui, and Jilin (which together account for 59% of the total population with the surname “Shan”). Other significant populations are in Henan, Hebei, and Liaoning (which account for another 20%).

Notable People with the Surname “Shan”#

• Shan Xiongxin: (Date of birth and death unknown) from Jiyin, Caozhou (present-day Cao County). Known for his bravery and strength, he joined the Wagang Rebellion at the end of the Sui Dynasty. In 617, he was appointed as a general. In 618, he surrendered to Wang Shichong. In 620, when Li Shimin besieged the eastern capital, Shan Xiongxin fought against Yu Chijing and was killed after falling from his horse. The following year, Li Shimin captured the eastern capital, and Wang Shichong surrendered to the Tang Dynasty.
• Shan Sigong: (Lived around 1619) from Yangzhou. His birth and death dates are unknown, but he lived during the late Ming Dynasty. He was a poet and wrote in the Jingling poetic style. His works, including the “Tian Xue Zhai Ji” (Twenty Volumes), have been preserved.

The surname “Shan” has a rich historical and cultural background, with notable individuals contributing to Chinese history and literature.