The Luan Family#

Surname: Luan, pronounced as luán

Regions where the Luan surname is prevalent#

• Hexi Commandery: Established during the Warring States period by the state of Wei, corresponding to the area along the Yellow River between present-day Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces.
• Wei Commandery: Established by Emperor Gaozu of Han. Its administrative center was located in the southwest of present-day Lintong County, Hebei Province.

Origin of the Luan surname#

• Deriving from the Ji surname: The Luan family traces its ancestry back to the descendants of the Yellow Emperor, with their surname originating from the fiefdoms granted to them. During the Western Zhou dynasty, Tang Shuyu, a son of King Wen of Zhou, was granted the fiefdom of Jin and established the state of Jin. One of his descendants was Marquis Jing of Jin. Marquis Jing’s grandson, named Bin, was granted the fiefdom of Luan (in the area around present-day Luancheng, Hebei), and thus the Luan family name was established. His descendants served as high-ranking officials in the state of Jin, eventually becoming a prominent clan.
• Also derived from the Jiang surname: This branch of the Luan family originated from the descendants of the Yan Emperor. During the Western Zhou dynasty, Jiang Ziya was granted the fiefdom of Qi and established the state of Qi. During the Spring and Autumn period, a son of Duke Hui of Qi named Jian (styled Ziluan) had his descendants adopt “Luan” as their surname.

Migration and Distribution

The prominent Luan clans lived in the region of Xihe (present-day Lishi County, Shanxi).

Hall Names

• Chongyi Hall: During the Han dynasty, Luan Bu became friends with Peng Yue, who was a bandit. Luan Bu was sold into slavery but later became a general in the state of Yan and was captured by the Han army. By this time, Peng Yue had become the King of Liang under the Han dynasty. Luan Bu was ransomed by Peng Yue and served as his advisor. After Peng Yue was executed by Emperor Gaozu of Han, his head was displayed in Luoyang, with an order prohibiting anyone from collecting his body. Luan Bu, however, publicly collected the body, buried it, and mourned for him. For this display of loyalty, Emperor Gaozu appointed Luan Bu as a military officer. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, Luan Bu served as the prime minister of Yan and was granted the title of Marquis Li. This branch of the Luan family is also known as the “Marquis Li Hall.”