The Family Name “Fa”#

Family Name: Fa, pronounced as “fǎ”

Regions Where the Family Name “Fa” Is Found**#

Fufeng Commandery: This commandery was established during the Zhou Dynasty, and its jurisdiction covered the areas of present-day Xingping and Xianyang in Shaanxi Province.

Origins of the Family Name “Fa”#

The origin of the family name “Fa” can be traced to several sources:

1. From the Gui clan: It originated from descendants of King Xiang of Qi (of the Tian clan) during the Warring States period, who adopted their ancestor’s name as their own surname. According to the “History of the Later Han Dynasty: Biography of Fa Xiong,” King Xiang of Qi, named Fa Zhang, belonged to the Tian clan. After the fall of Qi to the Qin dynasty, his descendants did not dare to use the Tian surname and instead adopted “Fa” as their new surname.
2. Among the Hui ethnic group: The name “Fa” is also found among the Hui people and is one of their traditional surnames, mainly distributed in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions.
3. From the Khitan people: It originated from an official named Fa Wuku during the Liao dynasty; this surname was derived from his official title.
4. From official positions: During the Han dynasty, there was an official position called “Fa Cao,” and people who held this position adopted it as their surname. “Fa Cao” was in charge of postal services, with responsibilities including maintaining order and combating banditry along the routes.
5. From the Song dynasty: Another origin relates to an official named Fa Jiuku, and this surname also came from his official title.
6. From the Mongol and Manchu ethnic groups: These groups adopted the name “Fa” after assimilation into Chinese culture.
7. From the Manchu people: They adopted the name “Fa” as part of their Hanization process.

The Ancestor of the Family Name “Fa”: Fa Zhang

The family name “Fa” originated during the Warring States period. At that time, the state of Qi was ruled by the Tian clan, which replaced the previous Jiang and Lu clans. The Tian clan descended from the Gui clan and was a descendant of Emperor Shun. King Xiang of Qi, named Fa Zhang, ruled Qi for about 150 to 160 years before Qi was conquered by the Qin dynasty, which unified China. To avoid persecution, the descendants of King Xiang did not dare to use the Tian surname and instead adopted Fa Zhang’s name as their own, thus establishing the family name “Fa.”

Migration and Distribution

The family name “Fa” is a typical example of a multi-ethnic and multi-origin surname group. Its population is not among the top 300 surnames in mainland China or Taiwan Province. In the Song dynasty version of the “Hundred Family Surnames,” it was ranked 461st. The most prominent family branches of the Fa clan are from Fufeng Commandery. The Fa surname is not among the top 100 surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. According to the “History of the Later Han Dynasty: Biography of Fa Xiong,” after the fall of Qi to the Qin dynasty, the descendants of King Xiang of Qi did not use the Tian surname and chose “Fa” instead. The “Yuanhe Xing Zuan” also states that the Fa surname originated from the Gui clan and was a descendant of the Tian clan. The Fa clan is mainly concentrated in the western part of Chang’an County, Shaanxi Province, with prominent families residing in Fufeng (east of present-day Xianyang, Shaanxi Province).

Hall Names Associated with the Family Name “Fa”: Fufeng Hall, Jinhui Hall, Tianxi Hall, etc.

**Notable People with the Surname “Fa:”

Fa Ruozhen: A painter and calligrapher from the early Qing dynasty, also known as Hanru (1613–1996) and Huangshan. He was from Jiaozhou, Shandong Province, and was skilled in painting landscapes.