The Zhen Family#

Surname: Zhen, pronounced as “zhēn”

Distribution of the Zhen Family#

The Zhen family originated from the Zhongshan Commandery, which was established during the Warring States period. During the Qin dynasty, it was renamed the Lujun Commandery. Under Emperor Gao of Han, the Zhongshan Commandery was re-established, with its administrative center in Lunu, which is today’s Zhengding County in Hebei Province. After Emperor Jing of Han, it was once again renamed the Zhongshan State.

Origin of the Zhen Surname#

The name “Zhen” has several origins:

1. Derived from a profession: In ancient times, “Zhen” referred to craftsmen who made pottery. According to the “Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue,” Shun (a legendary Chinese figure) worked with pottery by the Zhen River, and his descendants adopted this surname. The “Yuanhe Xingzuan” also mentions that Zhong Zhen, the second son of Gao Tao, was a descendant of Shun. However, these stories about Shun and Gao Tao are more legendary than historical facts.
2. Changed from a Xianbei tribal surname: During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Xianbei people adopted the Zhen surname. According to the “Wei Shu·Guanshi Zhi,” the Yudu Zhen family from northern Wei changed their surname to Zhen after moving to the Central Plains.

Ancestor of the Zhen Surname

The ancestor of the Zhen family is Zhong Zhen. The character “Zhen” originally meant “pottery maker.” The Zhen surname indeed has roots in the pottery-making tradition. According to the “Yuanhe Xingzuan,” Zhong Zhen was the second son of Gao Tao. Their ancestors were pottery craftsmen who worked for Shun. Since Gao Tao was a minister who helped establish laws during the Shun era, it is plausible that the Zhen surname originated from his son’s title. The Zhen family has a history of over 4,000 years, making it one of the oldest Chinese surnames. Therefore, Zhong Zhen is revered as the progenitor of the Zhen family.

Hall Names

• Huanjin Tang: During the Liang dynasty, a Zhen family member named Zhen Bin was in financial difficulty and pawned some ramie. When he redeemed it, he found a piece of gold weighing five taels (a unit of weight) inside. He immediately returned the gold to the pawnshop. The emperor, impressed by his honesty, appointed him as a military officer and the county magistrate of Bixian. This hall name reflects this story.
• Zhongshan Tang: Since the Zhen family’s ancestral commandery was Zhongshan, this hall name was chosen. Other common hall names for the Zhen family include “Shunhe Tang.”

Distribution and Migration

The Zhen surname does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. Wují is an ordinary traditional agricultural county in Hebei Province, located east of the provincial capital, Shijiazhuang. The county was established during the Western Han dynasty and has a history of over 2,000 years, making it the hometown of many people with the Zhen surname.