Doubled Surnames#

Surname: Shuang (pronounced: shuāng)

Distribution of the Doubled Surname#

The administrative region of Tianshui was established in the early Western Han Dynasty and corresponds to the area east of Tianshui and Longxi in present-day Gansu Province.

Origin of the Doubled Surname#

The origin of “Shuang” can be traced to two sources:

1. Some families took the name of a place as their surname, sharing the same ancestry as the Meng surname. During the ancient Xia Dynasty, a descendant of Emperor Zhuanxu was granted the fief of Shuangmeng City. Some of his descendants adopted the surname “Shuang,” while others adopted the surname “Meng.”

2. The surname also originated from ethnic minorities in history. According to the “New Book of Tang,” there was a minority group with the surname “Shuang.” Additionally, the Hui ethnic group in the Zhaotong area of Yunnan has the surname “Shuang.”

Distribution and Migration#

The surname “Shuang” does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. In ancient times, the Yellow Emperor was a renowned tribal leader, and one of his grandchildren, Zhuanxu, was also a famous tribal leader. During the Xia Dynasty, the rulers respected the great figures of the past and granted Zhuanxu’s descendants the fief of Mengshuang City. Some of these descendants adopted the characters “Meng” and “Shuang” as their surnames, giving rise to the surnames “Meng” and “Shuang.” During the Tang Dynasty, many ethnic minorities had the surname “Shuang.” Many of these minorities migrated to the Central Plains and intermarried with the Han people, bringing their own cultures while also absorbing Han culture, leading to a great integration of various ethnic groups in China—a period of prosperity for the Chinese nation. The Shuang surname among these minorities also played a role in the development of this surname.

Hall Names (Tanghao)#

“Heyi Hall”: This name originated during the Song Dynasty when a person named Shuang Jian served as the governor of Hanyang. He was known for his amiable and approachable demeanor, embodying the qualities of an honest and virtuous official.

Common Couplets for the Shuang Family Ancestral Hall#

Four-character couplets:

• “Originating from Tianshui; stemming from the Meng region.” (Written by an anonymous author, referring to the origin and administrative region of the Shuang surname.)
• “Respected by the people of Yingzhou and Lüzhou; their virtue was widely acknowledged.” (Written by an anonymous author, referring to historical figures from the Tang Dynasty.)

Six-character couplets:

• “A scholar of the Qingli era during the Song Dynasty; a military commander during the Qing Dynasty.” (Written by an anonymous author, referring to notable individuals from different dynasties.)

Seven-character couplets:

• “Their kindness endures forever; their cultural heritage is profound.” (Written by an anonymous author, emphasizing the longevity of the family’s heritage.)
• “Their virtue was revered by all; their influence extended far and wide.” (Written by an anonymous author, highlighting the family’s influence and reputation.)

These couplets reflect the history and culture of the Shuang surname.