Ming Family Name#

The surname Ming is pronounced as míng.

Distribution of the Ming Family Name#

The prominent clans of the Ming family live in areas such as Wuxing and Pingyuan (now Pingyuan County, Shandong Province).

• Wuxing Commandery: Established during the Zhou Dynasty as a county. In the third century AD (266 AD), during the Three Kingdoms period of the Wu state, it was promoted to a commandery. Its administrative center was Wucheng (now Wuxing, Zhejiang), named after the prosperity of the Wu state. Its jurisdiction included the areas from Lin'an in Zhejiang Province to Yixing in Jiangsu Province.
• Pingyuan Commandery: Founded in the early Western Han Dynasty (206 BC). Its administrative center was in what is now Pingyuan County, Shandong Province. Its territory corresponded to the areas of Pingyuan, Ling County, Yucheng, Qihe, Linyi, Shanghe, Huimin, and Yangxin in Shandong Province.
• Henan Commandery: Known as Sanchuan Commandery during the Qin Dynasty. In the second year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (205 BC), it was renamed Henan Commandery. Its administrative center was Luoyang (now Luoyang, Henan Province). Its jurisdiction covered the areas south of the Yellow River in Henan Province, the lower reaches of the Luoshui and Yishui rivers, the upper reaches of the Shuangji and Jialu rivers, and the Yuanyang area north of the Yellow River. It comprised twenty-two counties, roughly corresponding to the present-day counties and cities of Mengjin, Yanshi, Gongyi, Xingyang, Yuanyang, Zhongmu, Zhengzhou, Xinzheng, Xinmi, Linyu, Ruyang, Yichuan, and Luoyang in Henan Province.
• Ji Commandery: Established in the second year of the Taishi era of the Western Jin Dynasty (266 AD). Its administrative center was in Ji County (now Ji County, Henan Province). This commandery was abolished shortly after its establishment.

Origins of the Ming Family Name#

The Ming surname has the following origins:

1. Derived from the Qiaoming clan, originating from Ming You, a subordinate of Suiren. It is a surname based on the name of an ancestor.
2. Derived from the Ji surname, originating from Baili Shi, the son of Baili Xi, the prime minister of the Qin state during the Spring and Autumn period. It is also a surname based on the name of an ancestor.
3. Derived from the Xianbei ethnic group, originating from the Doujuan clan of the Tuoba tribe of the Northern Wei dynasty during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. It is a surname resulting from sinicization.
4. Derived from the Ji surname, originating from Ji Mingbao, the son of the Duke of Zhou in the early Western Zhou period. It is a surname based on the name of an ancestor.
5. Derived from an official position, originating from the Mingfu official during the Han Dynasty. It is a surname based on the title of an official position.
6. Derived from an official position, originating from the Mingtang Ling official during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. It is a surname based on the title of an official position.
7. Derived from an official position, originating from the Mingfayuan official during the Sui Dynasty. It is a surname based on the title of an official position.
8. Derived from an official position, originating from the Mingweilang official during the Jin Dynasty. It is a surname based on the title of an official position.
9. Derived from the Mongolian ethnic group, resulting from sinicization.
10. Derived from the Hui ethnic group, resulting from sinicization.
11. Derived from the Ji surname, originating from Fuyuzhen, a leader of the Red Turban Army at the end of the Yuan dynasty and the beginning of the Ming dynasty. It is a surname resulting from a change due to religious beliefs.
12. Derived from the Manchu ethnic group, resulting from sinicization.
13. Derived from the Ming dynasty, resulting from a change of surname due to anti-Manchu sentiments among the Han people after the fall of the Ming dynasty. It is a surname based on a historical event.

Ancestors of the Ming Surname: Ji Mingbao, Baili Shi, Ming Yuzhen (?F Yuzhen).

Migration and Distribution

The Ming family is a complex multi-ethnic and multi-originated surname group, ranking 282nd in the current list of common surnames, with a population of approximately 233,000 people, accounting for about 0.014% of the total national population. Members of the Ming family are distributed in Wuxing, Pingyuan (now Pingyuan, Shandong), Jiangxi, Hubei, Guangdong, Sichuan, Gansu, Zhangye, and other places. There are also a significant number of Ming family members in North Korea and South Korea.

Hall Names:

• Wuxing Hall: Established based on the family's prominence in Wuxing.
• Pingyuan Hall: Established based on the family's prominence in Pingyuan.
• Henan Hall: Established based on the family's prominence in Henan.
• Ji Commandery Hall: Established based on the family's prominence in Ji Commandery.
• Lian Shen Hall: During the Jin dynasty, Ming Ji served as the chief clerk of the county. He was known for his integrity and care for the people. When a famine struck the county, he ordered the opening of the granaries to provide relief. For those who could not afford to bury their deceased relatives, he purchased coffins for them. As a result, the people supported him, and he was promoted to county magistrate. He wrote a book titled "Family Instructions."
• Ji Qing Hall: During the Kangxi era