The Xiahou Clan#

Clan Name: Xiahou, pronounced as xià hóu

Distribution of the Xiahou Clan#

• Qiao Commandery: At the end of the Jian'an period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a part of Pei Commandery was separated to establish Qiao Commandery, with its administrative center in Qiao County (now in Maoxian County, Anhui Province).
• Lu Commandery: During the Han Dynasty, Xue Commandery was renamed Lu State, with its administrative center in Lu County (which was previously known as Qufu during the Qin Dynasty).

Origin of the Xiahou Clan#

The Xiahou surname has a simple origin. One theory suggests that it stems from the Si surname, with the clan name derived from a noble title. King Wu of Zhou granted the descendants of Yu the Great the title of Marquis of Donglou and established the state of Qi. During the Spring and Autumn period, the state of Qi was destroyed by the state of Chu in 445 BC. Tuo, the brother of Duke Jian of Qi, fled to the state of Lu. Duke Dao of Lu, recognizing Tuo's lineage as that of Yu the Great (a revered ancestor of the Zhou Dynasty), granted him the title of marquis, and thus the Xiahou surname was established. His descendants have inherited this surname.

Ancestor of the Clan:
Yu the Great is considered the progenitor of the Xiahou clan. Tuo, a descendant of Yu the Great, was granted the title of Marquis of Qi during the Zhou Dynasty. After the destruction of Qi by Chu in 445 BC, Tuo fled to Lu, where Duke Dao of Lu granted him a fief and the title of marquis to honor the ancestral traditions of Yu the Great. His descendants have since adopted the Xiahou surname.

Migration and Distribution:
The Xiahou clan does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames on the Chinese mainland or in Taiwan. The historical origins of the Xiahou clan can be clearly understood from the Xingpu (Genealogy Book) and the Tang Shu·Zaixiang Shixi Tie (Table of Prime Ministers’ Lineages in the Tang Dynasty). The Xiahou clan is actually a branch of the single-character surname “Xia.” After the state of Qi was conquered by Chu around 445 BC, Tuo fled to Lu, and the Xiahou surname was adopted by his descendants. The clan's historical roots date back approximately 2,400 years.

Clan Prefectures:
The Xiahou clan is associated with the Qiao Commandery and the Lu State. Qiao Commandery was established during the Jian'an period of the Eastern Han Dynasty and was located in the area between present-day Anhui and Henan provinces. Lu State was reorganized from the former Xue Commandery during the Western Han Dynasty and later renamed Qiao Commandery during the Three Kingdoms period (Wei and Jin dynasties), covering the region around present-day Qufu and Sishui in Shandong Province.

Hall Names (Tanghao):
Ru Yin Tang: During the Western Han Dynasty, there was a person named Xiahou Ying who was a close friend of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang. Xiahou Ying served as the Grand Steward (Taipu) for Liu Bang and played a key role in his military campaigns, including the conquest of Xiang Yu and the establishment of the Qin dynasty. The Xiahou clan adopted “Ru Yin” as its hall name in honor of Xiahou Ying.

Notable Figures with the Xiahou Surname:

• Xiahou Ying: A native of Pei during the Western Han Dynasty, he was a childhood friend of Liu Bang, fought alongside him, and was granted the title of Marquis of Ru Yin for his contributions.
• Xiahou ??: A general under Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period, he followed Cao Cao throughout his military campaigns and held various administrative positions. After Cao Pi ascended the throne, Xiahou ?? was promoted to the rank of Grand General but passed away shortly thereafter.
• Xiahou Sheng: A native of Dongping (now in Shandong Province) during the Western Han Dynasty, he studied the classic Shangshu under Xiahou Shichang and was known as “Great Xiahou.” He used astronomical phenomena to analyze political events. After Emperor Xuan of Han ascended the throne, Grand General Huo Guang appointed him to teach the Shangshu to the Empress Dowager. Later, he was imprisoned with Huang Ba and taught Huang Ba the same text. After being released, he served as the tutor to the crown prince and wrote commentaries on the Shangshu and the Analects of Confucius.

The Xiahou clan regards Yu the Great as its founding ancestor and believes that the Xiahou surname originated from his descendants.