宁姓
The Ning surname, ranking 187th in China, has ancient origins from the Ying and Ji surnames via posthumous titles/fiefs, and later Manchu adoptions. It has a notable historical distribution in Shandong and features prominent figures like Ning Yu throughout Chinese history.
Ning Family Name
Ning is the surname, pronounced as nìng.
Distribution of the Ning Family Name
The Jinan Commandery was established during the Han Dynasty. Its administrative center was located at Dongpingling (the ancient city is now west of Zhangqiu, Shandong Province); during the Jin Dynasty, it was moved to Licheng (present-day Jinan, Shandong Province). Its jurisdiction covered the areas of present-day Jinan, Zhangqiu, Jiyang, Zouping, and other places in Shandong.
Origins of the Ning Family Name
The origin of the Ning surname can be traced to several sources:
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From the Ying surname: The Ning family took their surname from a posthumous title. According to "Xing Zuan" and "Ji Ju Pian", the Ning family shared the same surname as the Qin dynasty. A great-grandson of Duke Xiang of Qin was posthumously titled "Duke Ning", and his descendants adopted this title as their surname. During the Spring and Autumn period, when Duke Xiang of Qin passed away, his great-grandson was given the title "Duke Ning", and his descendants continued to use this title as their surname through generations.
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From the Ji surname: The Ning family also originated from the Ji surname, taking the name of a fiefdom as their surname. In ancient times, during the Zhou dynasty, there was a nobleman named Wei Chenggong. Duke Wu of Wei granted his son, Ji Jixiao, the fiefdom of Ning (present-day Xiuwu County, Henan Province). Ji Jixiao's descendants adopted the name of the fiefdom as their surname and passed it down through generations. As stated in "Yuan He Xing Zuan", "The Ning family descended from Wei Chenggong; Duke Wu's son, Ji Jixiao, was granted the fiefdom of Ning."
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From Manchu surnames: During the Qing dynasty, some Manchu surnames such as Ning Jia and Ning Guta were changed to the single-surname Ning after entering China and adopting Han customs.
Ancestor of the Ning Family Name: The ancestor of the Ning family is Ji Jixiao.
The Ning surname ranks 187th among the most common surnames in China, with a population of about 0.05% of the total Han population in China. There are three main origins of the Ning surname:
- From the Ying surname: The Ning family adopted a posthumous title as their surname.
- From the Ji surname: The Ning family took the name of a fiefdom as their surname.
- From Manchu surnames: Some Manchu surnames were changed to the single-surname Ning after entering China.
Famous People with the Ning Surname:
- Ning Yu: A prominent official of the Wei state, known for his wisdom and loyalty. During the reign of King Wen of Wei, he remained inactive; however, during the reign of King Cheng of Wei, he faced difficulties bravely and was highly praised by Confucius.
- Ning Qi: A person from the Wei state during the Spring and Autumn period who became a high-ranking official in the Qi state after migrating there.
- Ning Yue: A native of Zhongmu during the Warring States period who changed his surname due to his family's history.
Hall Names of the Ning Family: The main hall names of the Ning family include "Qi Jun Tang", "Da Xiao Tang", "Du Qin Tang", and "Cheng De Tang".
The Ning family has a long and distinguished history, with many notable figures throughout Chinese history.