The Mu Family#

Surname: Mu, pronounced as “móu”

Distribution of the Mu Family#

Julu County: Also known as Julu County, it was established in the 25th year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s reign (222 BCE). The administrative center was located in Julu (present-day Pingxiang, Hebei). Xiang Yu, the overlord of the Western Chu, defeated the main forces of the Qin army here. At that time, its jurisdiction covered the areas south of Baiyangdian and Wen'anwa in Hebei, west of the South Canal, east of Gaoyang and Ningjin counties, and north of Pingxiang and Weixian counties, as well as the regions between Dezhou and Gaotang in Shandong and Guantao in Hebei. This designation was continued from the Han Dynasty to the Northern Wei Dynasty. After the Han Dynasty, the jurisdiction expanded to include the area north of Pingxiang County and the Jin County region in Hebei.

Pingyang County: There were two Pingyang Counties in history:

1. Present-day Linfen City, Shanxi Province.
2. Present-day Zoucheng City, Shandong Province.

Xingyang County: Established during the Qin Dynasty; its jurisdiction included present-day Yuanyang City, Henan Province.

Origins of the Mu Family#

The Mu surname can be traced back to the following origins:

1. Deriving from the Ji surname, originating from the fief granted to Zhu Rong, the god of fire during the Zhou Dynasty. This is an example of a surname based on the name of a state. According to historical records such as “Shixing Kaolue,” “Yuanhe Xingzuan,” and “Fengsu Tong,” “The state of Muzi was founded by Zhu Rong, and later people took his surname.”
2. Derived from the name of a fief granted as a surname. As recorded in the “History of the Later Han Dynasty: Biographies of Scholars,” Muzhang’s ancestors were granted the fief of Mu, and he took the name of the fief as his surname.
3. Originating from other ethnic minorities, who adopted Han Chinese surnames.
4. Originating from official titles, such as Cen Mu during the Western Zhou Dynasty.
5. Originating from place names, such as Bin Mou Jia during the late Spring and Autumn period.
6. Deriving from the Ji surname, originating from the state of Genmou during the Spring and Autumn period, and combining the names of the state and the family name.
7. Originating from the Dongyi ethnic group, from the Xianmou state during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and taking the name of the state as the surname.
8. Deriving from the Ji surname, originating from Sima Mimu, a high-ranking official during the Spring and Autumn period, and taking the name of the ancestor as the surname.
9. Deriving from the Mi surname, from the Mimu family of the Chu state during the Warring States period, and taking the name of the fief as the surname.
10. Originating from the Ji surname, from Sima Mimu, a minister of the Jin state during the Spring and Autumn period, and taking the name of the ancestor as the surname.
11. Deriving from the Ji surname, from Nan Mimu, a descendant of Duke Ling of Wei during the Spring and Autumn period, and taking the name of the ancestor as the surname.
12. Originating from the Mongolian ethnic group, resulting from the adoption of a Han Chinese surname.
13. Resulting from a change of surname, from the Li family during the Ming Dynasty, due to certain circumstances. This branch of the Mu family originated from a Li family in Macheng, Hubei. Note: The correct pronunciation of this branch is “móu.”
14. There is also a young Mu branch in China, with an ancestor named Li Fu, who had a son named Li Bazhen (married into a Mu family). Li Bazhen had four sons: Yuan Cheng, Yuan Yang, Hui Zu, and Mo Zu. To avoid misfortune, except for Yuan Yang, who kept the Li surname, the other three sons changed to the Mu surname. This branch of the Mu family has more than 200,000 members and a history of about 700 years.

Pioneers of the Surname:
Lu Zhong, Bin Mou Jia, Cao Mou Junqing, Sima Mimu, Zi Nan Mimu, Zhala Yier Muhuali, and Mou Yijin. According to legend, Zhu Rong, the god of fire in ancient times, held the position of overseeing fire during the ancient period, initially held by Chong Li, a descendant of Zhuanxu. Zhu Rong was also known as “Huo Zheng” and was named for his contributions to spreading light and warmth throughout the world. Chong Li was executed by Emperor Ku for failing to completely eliminate the Gonggong clan. Emperor Ku then appointed his brother Wu Hui to take over the position of “Huo Zheng.” Wu Hui had a son named Lu Zhong, who inherited this role. Later, the title of “Huo Zheng” evolved into the name of a tribe. The state of Mu was established during the Zhou Dynasty, but it was destroyed at the end of the Spring and Autumn period. After its fall, its descendants took the name of the state as their surname. Since the position of “Huo Zheng” was passed down through the Wu Hui lineage, most later Mu descendants revered Zhu Rong and Lu Zhong as the pioneers of the Mu surname.

Migration and Distribution:
The Mu family is an ancient surname with multiple origins and ethnic backgrounds, originating in the Shandong region. It ranks 149th among Chinese surnames in mainland China and 217th in Taiwan Province, with a population of about 984,000, accounting for approximately 0.07% of the national population. The Mu family has a long history in