The Liang Clan#

Surname: Liang, pronounced as “liáng”

Regions where the Liang surname is prevalent**#

• Pingliang, Gansu Province
• Tianshui, Gansu Province
• Luoyang, Henan Province

Origins of the Liang surname**#

1. Derived from the Ying surname: The Liang surname originated from the Ying clan, with individuals adopting the name of their state as their surname. According to “Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue·Yiguo Weisi,” during the reign of King Ping of Zhou, Qin Zhong achieved fame for his battles against the Xirong tribe. His younger son, Kang, was granted a fief at Liangshan in Xiayang (located south of present-day Hancheng County, Shaanxi Province). When the Liang state was conquered by the Qin state during the Spring and Autumn period, the Liang surname emerged among its descendants.
2. Derived from a specific place: During the Spring and Autumn period, the Jin state had several cities named Jieliang, Gaoliang, and Quliang. In 645 BC, Duke Hui of Jin offered these cities to the Qin state in exchange for peace. Those who settled in these areas adopted the surname “Liang.”
3. Changed from an ancient Xianbei clan surname: According to “Weishu·Guanshi Zhi,” during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Xianbei clan with the surname “Balelan” adopted the Chinese character “Liang” when they moved to the Central Plains and settled in Luoyang under Emperor Xiaowen of Wei.

Population distribution of the Liang surname The current population of the Liang surname exceeds 11 million, making it the 20th most common surname in China, accounting for approximately 0.93% of the national population. The growth rate of the Liang surname has followed a V-shaped pattern over the past 1,000 years since the Song Dynasty. The surname is most concentrated in Guangxi and Guangdong provinces, accounting for about 53% of the total Liang population; followed by Henan, Sichuan, Hebei, and Shandong, which together account for another 17%. Guangxi is the largest province with the Liang surname, hosting 28.5% of the total population. This has led to the formation of a Liang surname cluster centered around Guangxi and Guangdong. The frequency of the Liang surname varies across different regions: in Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, eastern Yunnan, and southern Guizhou, Hunan, and Jiangxi, it accounts for more than 1.08% of the local population, with some areas having a proportion as high as 6%. These regions cover 7.3% of the total national territory and are home to about 46% of the Liang population. In other areas, the proportion ranges from 0.54% to 1.08%, covering 34.2% of the national territory and housing approximately 41% of the Liang population.

Notable individuals with the Liang surname:

• Liang Qichao: Also known as Zhuoru, Ren Gong, and other titles such as Master of Yinbing Studio, Yinbingzi, and Aishi Ke, Liang Qichao was a prominent figure in Chinese history. He co-led the famous “Wuxu Reform” with Kang Youwei. His works, compiled in “Yinbing Studio Collection,” include influential works such as “A History of Chinese Scholarship in the Past Three Hundred Years,” “Methods of Chinese Historical Research,” and “Young China.”
• Liang Shiqiu: (January 6, 1903 – November 3, 1987) A Han Chinese scholar, essayist, literary critic, and translator, Liang Shiqiu was a leading authority on Shakespeare in China. He wrote over 20 million words in his lifetime and set a record for the publication of modern Chinese essays. His notable works include “Essays from Yashè Studio,” “A History of English Literature,” and “The Complete Works of Shakespeare.”
• Liang Sicheng: A renowned architect and architectural educator from Xinhui, Guangdong, Liang Sicheng was a pioneer in the field of ancient Chinese architecture. He dedicated his life to the study and education of ancient Chinese architecture, systematically researching and documenting its history and theory. He participated in the design of the People’s Heroes Monument and was involved in the planning of the new capital of China. He also served on the committee responsible for selecting the national flag and emblem of the People’s Republic of China.