The Wu Ma Clan#

Surname: Wu Ma, pronounced as wū mǎ

Distribution of the Wu Ma Clan#

Lu Jun: Also known as the State of Lu or Lu Jun.** At the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, the original Xue Jun of the Qin Dynasty was renamed Lu Guo, with its administrative center in Lu County (present-day Qufu, Shandong Province). During the Three Kingdoms period, it was renamed Lu Jun by the Cao Wei state and the Jin Dynasty. Its jurisdiction covered the areas around present-day Qufu, Sishui, and Ziyang in Shandong Province.

Origin of the Wu Ma Clan#

The Wu Ma surname originates from an official position. During the Zhou Dynasty, there were officials called Wu Ma who were responsible for taking care of horses and treating their illnesses. These officials were part of the Xia Guanfu (Summer Officials) department. The ancient text “Zhou Li · Xia Guan” states: “Wu Ma were in charge of caring for sick horses, riding them to assess their condition, and administering medicine to treat their illnesses.” By riding the sick horses and observing their behavior, they could diagnose the problems and provide appropriate treatment. This practice is also mentioned in the historical text “Xing Shi Kao Lue,” which says: “Wu Ma took care of sick horses and used their official title as their surname.” Some descendants of these officials adopted the Wu Ma surname; others simplified it to Wu or Ma. As a result, the Wu Ma clan has become less common over time, although the tradition has been passed down through generations.

Migration and Distribution Although the Wu Ma clan is an ancient Han Chinese surname, it does not rank among the top 300 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan Province. In the Song Dynasty version of the “Hundred Surnames,” it was ranked 448th. The Wu Ma surname is not among the top 100 surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. The term “Wu Ma” originally referred to an official position during the Zhou Dynasty responsible for horse care and treatment. This clan name was derived from the official title. According to historical records, descendants of these officials adopted the Wu Ma surname. One notable member of the Wu Ma clan was Wu Ma Shi, a disciple of Confucius who once served as the prime minister of Danfu. His dedication to state affairs is documented in historical records. After the Wu Ma officials, this compound surname became less common, possibly due to people simplifying it to Wu or Ma. Important Wu Ma clans can be found in Danfu (present-day Dan County, Shandong Province) and Lu Jun (which was established as the State of Lu during the Western Han Dynasty and later renamed Lu Jun during the Three Kingdoms and Jin dynasties, corresponding to the area around present-day Qufu, Shandong Province). There are also small communities of Wu Ma clans in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Handan City, Hebei Province.

Clan Halls

• Lu Jun Hall: Also known as the Lu Guo Hall.
• Dan Fu Hall: Named after the ancient town of Dan Fu.

Notable People with the Wu Ma Surname

• Wu Ma Shi: A favorite disciple of Confucius, known by the courtesy name Zi Qi.