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fángSeptember 28, 2025

房姓

The Fang surname, originating from Yao's grandson Fang Ling and the Xianbei ethnic group, is prominent in Henan, Zhejiang, and Shandong. Its ancestral hub is Qinghe, with the renowned Tang minister Fang Xuanling as a key historical figure.

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Fang Family

Surname: Fang, Pronunciation: fáng

Regions where the Fang surname is found**

Lankao County, Henan Province; Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province; Linzi, Shandong Province

Origin of the Fang surname

The Fang surname has the following origins:

  1. Derived from the Ji surname: It originates from the Tao Tang clan and is a descendant of Yao. Yao's son was granted a fief at Dan River, historically known as Dan Zhu. Yao believed that a successor needed to lead the people through times of disaster, so he did not pass the throne to Dan Zhu but instead abdicated in favor of Shun, who had made great contributions. This marked the beginning of the abdication system and the concept of a "commonly owned world." After Shun took the throne, he reassigned Dan Zhu to the area of Fang (now Suiping County, Henan Province), making him the Marquis of Fang. Dan Zhu's son, Ling, adopted the region as his surname, and thus the Fang lineage was established. Ling's descendant, Ya, became the governor of Qinghe (east of present-day Qinghe County, Hebei Province), and the Fang family became prominent there. Additionally, since Fang Xuanling, a key minister during the Tang Dynasty, also served as the governor of Qinghe, this region became particularly significant for the Fang family. There is a saying that "among all Fang families in the world, none are more esteemed than those from Qinghe."

  2. Changed from a minority ethnic surname: During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Xianbei tribe of the Northern Wei Dynasty had the surname Wu Yin, which was later changed to Fang when they moved to the Central Plains.

Progenitor of the Fang surname: Fang Ling, grandson of Yao, was granted the title of Marquis of Fang and adopted the region as his surname, becoming the ancestor of the Fang family. The Fang surname is descended from the Suiren and Fuxi clans and shares common ancestry with other surnames such as Fang, Fang, Pang, Han, Wei, Zhang, and Tang. Yao had a son named Dan Zhu, who was given a fief at Dan River but lacked the ability to govern the world; therefore, Yao passed the throne to Shun. Shun then granted Dan Zhu the fief of Fang and established the state of Fang. The prominent Fang family lived in Qinghe. Dan Zhu's son, Ling, adopted the region as his surname, and thus the Fang lineage was established. Therefore, the progenitor of the Fang surname is Fang Ling, grandson of Emperor Ku and Tang Yao.

Notable individuals with the Fang surname**

Fang Xuanling: Real name Qiao, courtesy name Xuanling, from Linzi, Qizhou (north-east of present-day Zibo, Shandong Province). A famous minister during the early Tang Dynasty, he became a prominent statesman at the age of 18 after passing the imperial examinations. After joining Li Shimin, he served as a strategic advisor and secretary for the Prince of Qin. He played a key role in the Xuanwu Gate Incident in 626 and was awarded the title of Duke of Liang in 648. He died in 648 and is considered one of the greatest ministers alongside Du Ruhui. Fang Xuanling authored the "Jin Shu" (History of the Jin Dynasty).