You Family#

Surname: You (pronounced: yǒu)

Regions Where the You Surname is Found**#

Donghai Commandery (established during the Han Dynasty, located in the area of present-day Tancheng, Shandong Province).

Origins of the You Surname**#

The You and You (Yǒu, Yòu) surnames have the following origins:

1. Derived from the Youchao clan, an ancient compound surname originating from the name of a residential area. According to the historical record “Lushi,” “The You clan descended from the ancient emperor Youchao.”
2. Resulted from surname changes, such as during the reign of the Ming Dynasty’s founder when a minister named You Rixing was granted a new surname by the emperor.
3. Originated from the Ji clan, stemming from Ran Qiu, a disciple of Confucius from the late Spring and Autumn period, who adopted the name of his ancestor.
4. Stemmed from official titles, with some members of the You clan holding official positions during the Qin and Han dynasties.
5. Originated from the Khitan people, with officials from the Liao Dynasty during the Song and Liao periods adopting official titles as their surnames.

Ancestral Founder of the You Surname:

The ancestral founder of the You surname is the Youchao clan. In ancient times, there was a tribal leader who was skilled at building houses in trees. These houses, located high in the trees, protected the inhabitants from wild animals and dampness. Since the houses resembled bird nests, the leader was called Youchao, and he became the progenitor of the You surname.

Ancestral Founder of the You (Yǒu) Surname:

You Rixing was a meritorious official of the Ming Dynasty. As a reward for his services to the court, the emperor added a special symbol to his surname as a gesture of appreciation. This honor was even greater than being granted a hundred taels of gold, so You Rixing changed his surname to You Rixing. Consequently, all members of the You family in that region also adopted this new surname.

Migration and Distribution

The You surname has multiple ethnic and historical origins. Although it does not rank among the top 300 surnames in mainland China, it is ranked 1,190th in Taiwan Province, with a population of just over 3,000 people, accounting for approximately 0.00019% of the national population. The You family originated from the Donghai Commandery. The You surname is not among the top 100 surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. According to “Lushi,” the You clan descended from the ancient emperor Youchao, who was known for teaching people how to live in such residences. Although there is no concrete historical evidence, his contributions to the development of the Chinese nation are widely recognized. The You surname has become very rare; according to statistics, there are only about 3,000 people with this surname in China. The You family is mainly associated with the Donghai Commandery (established during the Han Dynasty, in the area of present-day Tancheng, Shandong Province).

Hall Names (Associated with the You Surname):

• Donghai Hall: Named after the region of origin.
• Pingyin Hall: Also named after the region of origin.

Notable People with the You Surname:

• You Ruo: A native of the state of Lu during the late Spring and Autumn period, a favorite disciple of Confucius and one of the seventy-two sages.
• You (Yǒu) Rixing: A distinguished official of the Ming Dynasty who was granted the new surname “You Rixing” as an honor by the emperor.