The Zai Fu surname#

Surname: Zai Fu, pronounced: zǎi fǔ

Regions where the Zai Fu surname is found#

• Lu Jun: Also known as the State of Lu or Lu Jun.** At the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, the Xue Jun of the Qin Dynasty was renamed Lu Jun, with its administrative center in Lu County (present-day Qufu, Shandong Province). During the Three Kingdoms period under the Cao Wei regime and the Jin Dynasty, it was renamed Lu Jun again, and its jurisdiction covered the areas of present-day Qufu, Sishui, and Ziyang in Shandong Province. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it was renamed Ren Cheng Jun. Additionally, during the Sui Dynasty, there was a Lu Zhou Lu Jun, and during the Tang Dynasty, there was a Yan Zhou Lu Jun. Although both jurisdictions included Qufu, for example, the administrative center of Lu Jun was moved to Yan Zhou during the Sui Dynasty (with Lu County being renamed Wenyang County before its original name was restored). In the Tang Dynasty, Lu Jun was also relocated to present-day Zixian County in Shandong Province.

Origin of the Zai Fu surname#

The Zai Fu surname originates from an official title. It comes from the descendants of an official named Zai Fu during the Zhou Dynasty and is a surname derived from an official position. The Zai Fu surname shares the same origin as the Zai surname, both stemming from official titles established in the early Western Zhou period. The Zai Fu surname was established during the Spring and Autumn period. Regarding the Zai Fu family, He Shang Gong commented: “‘Fu’ means ‘beginning.’ ‘Zai Fu’ refers to the inception of the official position of ‘zai’ (to govern or manage), which was a title of an official in the Western Zhou period, specifically referring to the official title of Duke Dan of Zhou, also known as the Grand Minister, who oversaw the Imperial Household Department.

Progenitor of the surname

Zai Fu Hei is considered the ancestor of the Zai Fu surname. The Zai Fu family took its name from the official title. According to the “Rites of Zhou,” there was an official named Zai Fu, who belonged to the Imperial Household Department and was responsible for managing the dynasty’s laws, as well as the promotions and demotions of high-ranking officials and their regular evaluations. Some descendants of this official adopted the title of their ancestor as their surname, thus forming the Zai Fu family. During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius had a disciple named Zai Fu Hei, who is considered the progenitor of the Zai Fu surname.

Migration and distribution

The Zai Fu surname is a very ancient one with a multi-ethnic origin. Currently, it does not rank among the top 300 surnames in mainland China or Taiwan Province. In the Song Dynasty version of the “Hundred Family Surnames,” it was ranked 456th. The prominent families of this surname originated from Lu Jun. The Zai Fu surname is not among the top 100 surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan, making it one of the less common surnames. Since the ancestors of this surname include Confucius’ disciples, many of its members originally lived in Qufu, Shandong. Some of them migrated to the Northeast during the historical periods and have settled there ever since. Today, the surname can be found in scattered populations in Shandong, Shanxi, Beijing, and Heilongjiang.

Hall names

• Lu Jun Hall: Established based on the historical significance of the region, also known as Lu Guo Hall.

Notable individuals with the Zai Fu surname

• Zai Fu Hei: A disciple of Confucius. His full name was Zai Fu Hei, with the courtesy name Zi Suo. He was from the eastern part of the State of Lu at the end of the Spring and Autumn period. During the Tang Dynasty’s Kaiyuan era, he was granted the title of “Cheng Qiu Bo,” and in the Song Dynasty, he was further honored with the title of “Qi Xiang Hou.”