The Xia surname#

Surname: Xia, pronunciation: xià

Regions where the Xia surname is found#

Suzhou, Jiangsu; Qingyang, Gansu

Origins of the Xia surname#

1. The Xia surname originates from the Si surname. According to the “Xing Pu” (Genealogy Records), during the Zhou Dynasty, the descendants of the Xiahou family were granted fiefs, including Duke Donglou in Qi. Those who did not receive fiefs adopted the name of their original state, “Xia”, as their surname.
2. It also evolved from the Xiahou surname through simplification; the Xia family in Qingyang, Gansu, is an example of this.
3. Another origin is from the Gui surname, where the son of a king was given a courtesy name, which was adopted as the surname. According to the “Tong Zhi • Shi Zu Lue” (Comprehensive Records • Brief Information on Surnames), during the Spring and Autumn Period, the son of Duke Xuan of Chen was named Zixia. His descendant, Xia Zhengshu, adopted this courtesy name as his surname.

Spread of the Xia surname Due to its early inception, the Xia surname has spread widely over time. Before the Qin Dynasty, it was mainly found in central China and later migrated to Shaanxi, Shandong, Anhui, Shanxi, Hebei, and other regions. For example, Xia Zhengshu’s fourth-generation descendant, Xia Qufu, served as an official in Chen (now in Henan), while another descendant, Xia Yukou, served in Qi (in eastern Shandong). During the Qin Dynasty, there was a notable figure named Xia Wuqi, who was a court physician (probably from the Xia family in Shaanxi). During the Qin and Han periods, the Xia surname spread to Dai (in northwestern Hebei and central and northern Shanxi); the Anhui Xia family descended from some of the Xia royal family who fled to Nanchao. Before the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Xia surname was predominantly active in northern China, especially in the Central Plains. The southward migration of the Xia surname began during the Han Dynasty; for instance, Xia Huanggong from the Western Han Dynasty was from Yinzhou (now Ningbo, Zhejiang), and Xia Fang from the Eastern Han Dynasty was from Jiujiang (now in Jiangxi). A significant southward migration occurred during the Wei and Jin periods, leading to a concentration of the Xia surname in the Jiangnan region. After the Tang and Song Dynasties, the Xia surname became widespread in Anhui, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi, with the highest concentration in Zhejiang, making it a typical southern Chinese surname.

Notable individuals with the Xia surname

• Xia Xie: A historian from Dangtu, Anhui, who was dissatisfied with the Qing government’s traitorous actions and strongly opposed foreign invasions. He wrote the book “Zhong Xi Ji Shi” (Records of China and the West).
• Xia Minghan: A revolutionary martyr from Hengyang, Hunan, who bravely sacrificed his life for the liberation of China. His last poem before execution read, “Kill Xia Minghan, and others will follow,” demonstrating the revolutionary integrity of a Communist.

Distribution of the Xia surname in Taiwan In Taiwan, the Xia surname ranks 93rd and is a common one. It is mainly found in New竹, Miaoli, Chiayi, Tainan, and Penghu. In Southeast Asia, especially in Singapore, there are also Chinese people with the Xia surname. In contemporary China, the Xia surname ranks 55th in terms of popularity.

Conclusion The Xia surname has a long history and a wide distribution, with significant developments in different periods. It is particularly prevalent in the southern regions of China and has become a typical southern Chinese surname. The Xiahou surname, while also present, is less common. This pattern is observed both on the mainland and in Taiwan. According to surveys by the Taiwan Provincial Literature Association, the Xia surname is a major one in Taiwan, with populations in New竹, Miaoli, Chiayi, Tainan, and Penghu. In Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries, the Xia surname also holds a significant place among Chinese populations, ranking 55th in terms of popularity in China.