Hou Family Surname#

Surname: Hou, pronunciation: hòu

Distribution of the Hou Surname#

Donghai Commandery: Also known as Tancheng Commandery or Haizhou. There were three instances of Donghai Commandery in history:**

1. Its administrative center was located in Tancheng (present-day Tancheng, Shandong Province).
2. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Donghai Commandery was established in Haiyu County (present-day Changshu, Jiangsu Province); later, the capital was moved to Jingkou (present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province). At that time, its jurisdiction covered areas including present-day Feixian and Linyi counties in Shandong Province, the southern part of Ganyu County in Jiangsu Province, Zaozhuang City in Shandong Province, the eastern part of Pixian County in Jiangsu Province, and the northern parts of Suqian and Guannan counties in Jiangsu Province.
3. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, as well as the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Haizhou was used as the name for Donghai Commandery, with its administrative center in Qushan (present-day Haizhou Town, Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province). Its jurisdiction extended to the areas east of present-day Donghai County in Jiangsu Province and north of the Huai River.

Origins of the Hou Surname#

The Hou surname originates from:

1. The descendants of Taihao, the ancient leader of the Dongyi tribe. The surname was derived from the name of their ancestor, Houzhao.
2. The Ji surname: It originated from the fiefdom of Ji Gong, the son of Duke Xiaogong of Lu during the Western Zhou Dynasty. The surname was derived from the name of the fiefdom.

Ancestor of the Surname

The ancestor of the Hou surname is Gongzi Gong. In ancient times, "Hou" and "Hou" were two separate surnames, but today they are both written as "Hou" and are not distinguished from each other. According to historical records, the Hou surname is said to be descended from Taihao Fuxi, the ancient leader of the Chinese tribes. Taihao is also known as Taihao or Dahao, which are alternative names for Fuxi. As stated in "Xing Shu Kao Lüe": "Descendants of Taihao's grandson Houzhao can be found in Kaifeng today, with their ancestral roots in Donghai." This indicates that the Hou surname was derived from the name of the ancestor.

Migration and Distribution

The Hou surname has a multi-source origin. Its total population in mainland China and Taiwan Province does not rank among the top 300 surnames. In the Song Dynasty version of the "Hundred Family Surnames," it was listed as the 398th most common surname. The Hou surname can be found in various regions across China, including Yilong County in Sichuan Province, Guyuan County in Gansu Province, Ningxiang County in Hunan Province, and Xuancheng County in Anhui Province.

Hall Names

• Yuzheng Hall: During the Ming Dynasty, Hou Min, a member of the Shaanxi government, implemented policies to enrich the people, bringing prosperity and happiness to the populace. His governance was characterized by generosity, innovation, and the pursuit of a prosperous society.
• Donghai Hall: Named after the historical region of Donghai Commandery.

Genealogical Phrases

• Anhui Ma'anshan Hou Surname: "Ding er cheng kai shi de" (Establish your lineage and inherit the virtues of the ancestors.)
• Anhui Chuzhou Hou Surname: "Shang zhi cheng xian de qi qiang fa bi" (Advocate wisdom, inherit the ancestors' virtues, and strive for strength and prosperity.)
• Anhui Wuhu Hou Surname: "Qiang zhi yong wei de zong xi ren yi he" (Maintain strength, uphold virtue, and seek harmony.)
• Jiangsu Xinghua Hou Surname: "Chang shi chun zhao..." (Constantly bring good omens...)
• Jiangsu Lishui Hou Surname: "Zhi ji xian zuo..." (Your aspirations should be as illustrious as the left side of the sun...)

Notable People with the Hou Surname

• Hou Chu: A person from the state of Qi at the end of the Spring and Autumn period, one of Confucius' 72 disciples who dedicated himself to spreading Confucianism. He was granted the title of "Yingqiu Bo" during the Tang Dynasty and later "Jiaodong Hou" during the Song Dynasty.