The Qiu Family Name#

Family Name: Qiu, pronounced as “qú”

Distribution of the Qiu Family Name#

• Yuzhang Commandery: During the Han Dynasty, the Jiujiang Commandery from the Qin Dynasty was renamed Yuzhang Commandery, with its administrative center in Nanchang. This area corresponds to present-day Jiangxi Province.
• Liyang Commandery: Liyang County was established during the Western Han Dynasty and later reorganized as a commandery during the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is located in the central part of present-day Henan Province, around Xun County.
• Ji Commandery: This commandery was established in the second year of the Taishi era of the Jin Dynasty. Its ancient site is around present-day Ji County in Henan Province.

Origins of the Qiu Family Name#

There are two theories regarding the origin of the Qiu surname:

1. Origins from Jewelry: In ancient times, the characters for “Qiu” and “?” were interchangeable and referred to a type of earring made of gold or silver. The descendants of the person who created these earrings adopted “Qiu” as their family name. People highly valued jade for its durability, luster, purity, and the sounds it produced, which symbolized good fortune. Wearing jade was considered a sign of nobility, and jade artifacts came in various forms. Since the character for “Qiu” specifically referred to jade earrings, it became a noble symbol, leading to the emergence of the Qiu surname.

2. Origins from the Ji Family: The Qiu surname also has connections to the Ji family. During the early Western Zhou Dynasty, Kang Shu (surnamed Ji and named Feng) was granted a fief in the state of Wei, with his capital in Chaoge (southwest of present-day Qi County, Henan Province). During the Spring and Autumn period, a meritorious member of the Ji family was granted the title of Boju by the ruler of Wei and adopted the surname “Qiu.” Since the characters for “Qiu” and “Ji” are pronounced similarly, some members of the Ji family changed their surname to Qiu. Additionally, some changed the character for “Ji” by removing the grass radical, resulting in the surname “Ju.”

Ancestor of the Qiu Family: The ancestor of the Qiu family is Qi Boyu, a prominent official from the state of Wei during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. He was from Boyu Village in Changtan County, Henan Province. After 27 generations, a descendant named Qiu served as a Grand Master of Ceremonial (Guanglu Daifu) in the Tang Dynasty and lived in Yuzhang (present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi Province). During the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty, he was falsely accused and fled with his family, splitting into three branches with the surnames Qiu, Qu, and Qu (pronounced similarly but written differently), all remaining part of the same family. The character for “Qiu” was derived by removing the grass radical from “Ji,” symbolizing the desire for the descendants to avoid official positions and live as commoners, while also honoring the family's heritage associated with jade.

Distribution of the Qiu Family: The Qiu surname is found in mainland China and Taiwan but does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in either region. The Qiu family name originates from ancient jade earrings made of gold and silver, which were highly valued. Some people adopted this name as a symbol of nobility. Another branch of the Qiu family originated from the Ji family, with some members changing their surname to Qiu due to its positive connotations. A small number of Qiu family members also changed the character for “Ji” to “Ju.”

The Qiu family name has a long and prestigious history, with its origins dating back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Many prominent Qiu family members served in various roles, and their achievements are celebrated in traditional Chinese literature.