The Huan Family#

Surname: Huan, pronounced as “huàn”

Distribution of the Huan Family#

According to “Junwang Baijiaxing” (a book on surnames), which quotes “Xingyuan,” the Huan family originated from Dongyang. Additionally, “Xingshu Wushi” (Five Books on Surnames) states that this surname can be found in today’s Zunyi County, Guizhou Province, as well as in Danyang County, Jiangsu Province.

• Dongyang Commandery: Established in the first year of Baoding during the Three Kingdoms period of Wu (266 AD), corresponding to the Jinhua area of present-day Zhejiang Province.
• Zhongshan Commandery:
  1. The ancient state of Zhongshan, with its capital at Gu during the Warring States period (equivalent to present-day Ding County in northern Hebei Province). It was once conquered by Wei, later re-established, and its capital was moved to Lingshou (north of present-day Pingyang). It was conquered by Zhao in 296 BC.
  2. Established by Emperor Shang of Han, with its administration center in Lunu (present-day Ding County). Later, it became the capital of the Later Yan dynasty. Abolished during the Sui dynasty.
  3. During the Song dynasty, Dingzhou was renamed Zhongshan Prefecture, with its administrative center in Anxi (present-day Ding County).
  4. The current Zhongshan County was formerly known as Xiangshan County. It was renamed to its current name after the death of Sun Yat-sen in 1925. The hometown of Sun Yat-sen is located in Cuiheng Village, south of the county.

Origin of the Huan Surname#

There are several theories regarding the origin of the Huan surname:

1. From officials outside the eunuch class: The Huan surname originated from families of officials who used their official titles as their surname. During the Zhengde period of the Ming dynasty, the emperor granted this surname to the entire household of the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. This led to the widespread use of the Huan surname.
2. Descendants of Shun: One theory suggests that the Huan surname comes from Chen Meilin, a descendant of Shun. During the Warring States period, there was a remarkable figure named Guiguzi who was an expert in astronomy and military strategy. Many of his disciples became high-ranking officials, including famous figures such as Su Qin, Zhang Yi, and Pang Juan. Chen Meilin was one of his disciples but failed to achieve fame in his official career; his wife left him before his death. Before passing away, he instructed his son to adopt the Huan surname as a tribute to this unfulfilled wish.
3. From the Mongolian surnames Heluchude and Heluchiti: These Mongolian surnames were later changed to the Chinese surname Huan.
4. From the Tujia ethnic group: The Huan surname also exists among the Tujia people.

Distribution and Migration: The Huan surname is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. Since it originally referred to officials, some people adopted it as a symbol of their aspiration to become officials. According to “Xingshu Wushi,” the name “Huan” should symbolize the role of an official, not necessarily referring to eunuchs. Throughout history, some people with this surname were associated with the imperial court, as eunuchs held significant power. However, due to societal discrimination, many descendants of eunuchs changed their surname. Today, Huan families can be found in Zunyi County, Guizhou Province, Danyang County, Jiangsu Province, and other regions.

Hall Names of the Huan Family: A common hall name for the Huan family is “Dongyang Hall.”

Notable Figures with the Huan Surname: Huan Ji, from Jiangyin, was a scholar who excelled in writing and was known for his integrity during the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty.