家姓
The Jia surname, with origins in the Zhou Dynasty and Spring and Autumn period, historically flourished in Jingzhao and Nanan commanderies (modern Shaanxi/Gansu). It later spread to regions like Sichuan and today has a limited population, not ranking in the national top 300.
Family Surname
Surname: Jia (pronounced: jiā)
Distribution of the Jia Surname
- Jingzhao Commandery: Refers to the area directly under the jurisdiction of the capital Chang’an, corresponding to the region from present-day Xi’an in Shaanxi to Huaxian.
- Nanan Commandery: Established in the fifth year of the Zhongping era during the Eastern Han Dynasty (188 AD) by dividing Hanyang Commandery; its administrative center was Didao (on the east bank of the Wei River in present-day Longxi, Gansu). This area encompasses parts of eastern Longxi, as well as Dingxi and Wushan in Gansu.
Origin of the Jia Surname
There are three theories regarding the origin of the Jia surname:
- Derived from the Ji surname: According to “Xingyuan” and “Mingxian Shizhu Yanxing Leigao”, Jia Fu, a son of King Xiao of Zhou, served as an official during King You of Zhou’s reign. Dissatisfied with King You’s excessive drinking, indulgence in women, and tyrannical behavior, Jia Fu composed the poem “Jiennan Mountain” (from the “Book of Songs: Xiaoya”) to criticize him. His descendants took the character “Jia” as their surname in honor of his loyalty and integrity.
- Also derived from using the ancestor’s name as the surname: As recorded in “Xingyuan” and “Xingshi Kaolüe”, during the Spring and Autumn period, a grandson of Duke Zhuang of Lu named Ju, with the courtesy name Zijia, had his descendants adopt his ancestor’s name as their surname, passing it down through generations.
- **From the compound surname “Jiapu”: According to “China Surnames Encyclopedia”, during the Zhou Dynasty, there was an official named Jiapu Tu from the state of Jin; this marked the beginning of the compound surname “Jiapu”. Later, it was simplified to the single surname “Jia”.
Hall Names: Jingzhao Hall, Nanan Hall.
Migration and Distribution
The Jia surname initially originated in the Central Plains and gradually spread to surrounding regions. During the Han and Tang dynasties, prominent Jia clans emerged in Shaanxi and Gansu, with Jingzhao and Nanan Commanderies being their ancestral areas. After the Song Dynasty, major settlements were formed in Meishan, Sichuan, among other places. Today, the Jia surname has a limited presence in Jiangsu, Shanghai, Shanxi, and other regions. Currently, the population with the Jia surname does not rank among the top 300 in the country.