洪姓
The Hong surname, China's 99th most common with over 2 million people, originates from ancient figures and states. Its population, concentrated in Guangdong, Taiwan, and along the Yangtze River, grew over 11-fold in 600 years. Notable bearers include Hong Xiuquan, leader of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
Hong Family Name
Family Name: Hong, Pronunciation: hóng
Distribution of the Hong Family Name
The Hong family name is prevalent in the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province, Xuancheng in Anhui Province, and Nanchang and Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province.
Origin of the Hong Family Name
The current population with the Hong family name exceeds 2 million, making it the 99th most common family name in China, accounting for approximately 0.16% of the national population.
Origins of the Hong Family Name:
- Descendants of the ancient Yan Emperor and Shennong: According to historical records such as "Yuanhe Xing Zuan" and "Shangshu", Gonggong held a position responsible for managing water resources during the reign of the Yellow Emperor and was revered as the God of Water. During the reign of Emperor Zhuanxu, Gonggong led an uprising but was defeated. To avoid retribution, he changed his surname to Hong. It is said that in a fit of anger after his defeat, he collapsed the Mount Zhou, which was believed to support the heavens and the earth. As a result, he was exiled from the Central Plains. To ensure that his descendants would not forget his heritage as the God of Water, he added three water characters to his surname, thus creating the Hong family name.
- Changes from the Gong State: During the Western Zhou Dynasty, there was a state called Gong (its former capital is located in present-day Hui County, Henan Province). Its descendants adopted the name of their state as their surname and later added the water character to form "Hong".
- Descendants of Emperor Hong: It is also believed that the Hong family name originated from descendants of Emperor Hong (also known as Xuanyuan).
- The Yanghou State during the Zhou Dynasty: This state established its capital in Hongdong, and its descendants adopted the name of their state as their surname.
- Changes due to taboos: Some families changed their surnames to avoid naming taboos.
- Adopted from other ethnic groups: The Hong family name may have been adopted by people from other ethnic groups.
Population Growth of the Hong Family Name:
Over the past 600 years (from the Ming Dynasty to the present), the population with the Hong family name has increased from 170,000 to over 2 million, an increase of more than 11 times. However, the growth rate of the Hong family name has been slower than the national population growth rate. In the 1,000 years since the Song Dynasty, the growth rate of the Hong family name has been declining. Currently, the Hong family name is mainly concentrated in Guangdong, Taiwan, Fujian, and Zhejiang provinces, accounting for approximately 49% of the total Hong population in China. The remaining 27% is distributed in Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Chongqing. Guangdong is the province with the largest Hong population, accounting for about 14% of the total. The distribution of the Hong family name follows a pattern along the Yangtze River and extends to Hainan in the south.
Notable People with the Hong Family Name:
- Hong Xiuquan: (January 1, 1814 – June 1, 1864): Originally named Hong Renkun and nicknamed Huoxiu, he was a Hakka from Jiyingzhou, Guangdong. He founded the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and served as its leader, earning the title of "King of Heaven". He was born on January 1, 1814, in Fuyuan Shui Village, Huaxian County, Guangdong. Hong Xiuquan was a prominent figure in Chinese history.
- Hong Chengchou: (1593–1665): His courtesy name was Yanyan, and his style name was Hengjiu. He initially served the Ming Dynasty but later defected to the Qing Dynasty after the defeat of the Ming forces at Songshan. He was a key figure in the Qing Dynasty's conquest of the Central Plains. Born on September 22, 1593, in Xiamei Township, Nian'an County, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian, he died in 1665 at the age of 73. He was posthumously granted the title of "Shao Shi" and buried in Beijing. Due to his role in defecting from the Ming to the Qing Dynasty, his tomb in Haidian District, Beijing, is listed in the "History of the Qing Dynasty" under the category of "Defectors". During the Chongzhen period, Hong Chengchou compiled the 12-volume "Gujin Pingding Lue". Later works, such as "Hong Chengchou Zhangzhao Wen Ce Hui Ji" and "Jinglue Ji Yao" (24 volumes), were also written by his descendants.