The Niu Family#

Surname: Niu, pronounced as “niú”

Distribution of the Niu Family#

According to the book “Junwang Baijiaxing,” the Niu family originated from the Longxi Commandery. Longxi Commandery was established during the Warring States period by the Qin state, with its administrative center located in Didao. The ancient city of Longxi is now in the south of Lintao, Gansu Province. Its territory encompassed areas east of Dongxiang and west of Wushan in Gansu, as well as north of Lixian. During the Three Kingdoms period, the Wei state moved the administrative center to Xiangwu; the ancient city of Longxi is now in the southwest of Gansu.

Origins of the Niu Family#

The surname “Niu” has several origins:

1. Derived from the Zi surname: It is a descendant of King Tang of the Shang dynasty. According to “Tongzhi·Shizú Lüe,” “Yuanhe Xingzuan,” and “Tangshu·Shixì Biǎo,” King Wu of Zhou granted the title of Duke of Song to Weizi (the half-brother of King Zhou of Shang) to carry out the worship of King Tang. Weizi’s descendant, Niu Fu, adopted his father’s title as his surname.
2. Change from another surname to Niu: According to the “Sui Shu” and “Lushi,” Niu Hong of the Sui dynasty had his father, Liao Yun, who was a court official during the Northern Wei dynasty, granted the surname Niu. Another theory suggests that Niu Hong was a descendant of Niu Jin, a general of the Wei dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, and changed his surname to Liao to avoid persecution, later regaining his original surname after Liao Yun’s death.
3. Formation among farmers: Farmers who spent much time with cattle often adopted the name “Niu” as their surname.
4. Adoption by other ethnic groups: During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Niu surname appeared among the Naxi people in Lijiang and Zhongjiang, Yunnan; it was also adopted by Manchu people living in Shenyang and under the jurisdiction of the Yellow Banner.

Ancestor of the Niu Family

The ancestor of the Niu family is Niu Fu, a descendant of King Tang of the Shang dynasty. After King Wu of Zhou overthrew King Zhou of Shang, he granted Weizi the title of Duke of Song and established the State of Song. Weizi’s descendant, Niu Fu, served as the Minister of Justice in Song. During the reign of Duke Wu of Song, the nomadic Xirong tribe frequently attacked Song, and Niu Fu led troops to defeat them. Unfortunately, he died in battle for his country. His descendants adopted his name as their surname in honor of his contributions.

Hall Names (Tanghao)

• Longxi Hall: This hall name is commonly used by the Niu family, reflecting the family’s origin in the Longxi Commandery. Regardless of where they live, Niu family members who use this hall name recognize each other as descendants of Longxi, feel a sense of kinship, and are willing to help each other.
• Taishi Hall: This hall name is derived from Niu Fengji, a poet of the Tang dynasty who compiled the “Tangshu.” Niu Fengji was a great-grandson of Niu Hong and served as a minister in the Tang government. His main achievement was compiling the official history of the Tang dynasty, which is why his hall name carries the meaning of honoring his contributions.

Migration and Distribution

The Niu family originated in present-day Shangqiu, Henan, during the Spring and Autumn period. In 286 BC, towards the end of the Warring States period, the State of Song was divided among the states of Qi, Chu, and Wei, and its people scattered. Historical figures from this period include Niu Que, a Confucian scholar of the Qin state; Niu Jian, a general of the Zhao state; and Niu Chu, a native of Zhao. This indicates that the Niu family had spread to areas such as present-day Hebei and Shaanxi. During the Han dynasty, notable Niu family members included Niu Shang, the governor of Zhangye; Niu Di, an imperial censor; Niu Han from Didao (present-day Lintao, Gansu); and Niu Fu, a relative of Dong Zhuo. After the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, due to political turmoil, some Niu family members migrated to other regions. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Niu family became even more prominent, with many high-ranking officials and notable individuals emerging from Longxi.

By the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Niu family was widespread across China, with members living in various provinces and ethnic groups. Today, the Niu surname can be found in many Chinese-speaking countries around the world.