宣姓
The Xuan surname, originating from posthumous titles of ancient rulers like King Xuan of Zhou and Duke Xuan of Song, historically flourished in Henan and Shaanxi. It later spread to southeastern coastal regions, producing notable figures such as Tang Dynasty top scholar Xuan Zhenzhi.
Xuan Family Name
Family Name: Xuan, Pronunciation: xuān
Regions Where the Xuan Family Name is Found
In the areas of Xianyang and Huxian in Shaanxi Province, as well as Puyang and Huaxian in Henan Province
Origin of the Xuan Family Name
The origin of the “Xuan” family name can be traced to several sources:
- It derives from the Ji family name, with the title bestowed upon a person after death becoming the family name. According to the book “Fengsu Tongyi,” Jing, a son of King Li of Zhou, ruled for forty-six years before his death and was posthumously titled “Xuan,” becoming known as King Xuan of Zhou. Some of his descendants adopted “Xuan” as their family name.
- It also originates from the Zi family name, with the title bestowed upon a person after death being used as the family name. During the Spring and Autumn period, a ruler of the State of Song named Li ruled for sixteen years and was posthumously titled “Xuan”; his descendants also took “Xuan” as their family name.
- According to the book “Tongzhi · Shizu Lue · Yishi Wei Shi,” it stems from Shusun Qiaoru, a high-ranking official of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period. Qiaoru was posthumously titled “Xuan Bo,” and his descendants adopted this title as their family name.
Migration and Distribution
The Xuan family name originated from the titles bestowed upon ancient monarchs and nobles. “Xuan” was a common title for emperors and lords in ancient times, such as King Xuan of Zhou and Duke Xuan of Song. Their descendants adopted these titles as their family names. A notable example is the descendants of King Xuan of Zhou, who took the character “Xuan” as their family name, marking the earliest origin of the Xuan family. During the Spring and Autumn period, Sun Qiaoru, a high-ranking official of the State of Lu, was posthumously titled “Xuan,” and his descendants also used this title. In the early days, the Xuan family mainly lived in Henan, Shaanxi, and Shandong provinces. After the Han Dynasty, they became prominent families in Dongjun (Puyang, Henan) and Shipingjun (Xingping, Shaanxi). Due to wars and migrations, they gradually spread to coastal areas in the southeast, with populations appearing in Ningbo, Jiaxing, Zhuji (Zhejiang), Tianchang (Anhui), and Jiangyin (Jiangsu).
Famous People with the Xuan Family Name
- Xuan Zhenzhi: The top scholar (zhuangyuan) of the Tang Dynasty, and the first ancestor of the Xuan family in Yiyi, Zhejiang. Han Yu, one of the “Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties,” wrote articles praising Xuan Zhenzhi during the Tang Dynasty’s Zhenyuan era. Many members of the Xuan family became successful officials during the Tang and Song dynasties, serving alongside figures such as Liu Zongyuan, Zeng Gong, Ouyang Xiu, Wang Anshi, Su Shi, and Wen Tianxiang, who all wrote biographies of our ancestors.
- Xuan Xiafu: Originally named Yao Huo, also known as Jianhun, from Zhuji, Zhejiang. After graduating from the Zhejiang Provincial Fisheries School in 1920, he went to Japan to study fisheries at Hokkaido Imperial University and authored books such as “Record of the Northwest Expedition” and “Before and After Joining the Military.”