The Guan Family#

Surname: Guan, pronounced as guǎn

Regions Where the Guan Surname Is Found**#

Lankao County, Henan Province; Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province; Linzi, Shandong Province

Origin of the Guan Surname#

The Guan surname ranks 140th among the most common surnames in China, with a significant population, accounting for approximately 0.09% of the total Han Chinese population.

Origins of the Guan Surname#

There are three theories regarding the origin of the Guan surname:

1. It originates from the Ji family, descending from King Wen of Zhou. The state's name was used as the surname. According to "Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue," "The Origins of Chinese Surnames," and "Guangyun," after King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty, he granted the title of Duke of Guan to his third brother, Shu Xian, who established the state of Guan in what is now Zhengzhou, Henan Province. After Shu Xian's death, his descendants adopted the name of their former fief, "Guan," as their surname.
2. It also originates from the Ji family, descending from King Mu of Zhou. During King Mu's reign, one of his sons was granted the fief of Guan. Later, Guan Zhong became prominent in the state of Qi, and his descendants adopted the name of the fief as their surname.
3. The surname may have resulted from the conversion of another ethnic group's name; for example, the Xibe tribe's "Guarjia" clan adopted the Han surname "Guan."

Founder of the Surname#

Guan Zhong, whose given name was Yi Wu and posthumously honored with the title "Jing Zhong," was a famous politician from the Spring and Autumn period. He was a descendant of King Mu of Zhou. Initially, Guan Zhong served Prince Jiu but later helped Prince Xiaobai escape by pretending to be dead. After Prince Xiaobai returned to Qi and ascended the throne as Duke Huan of Qi, he appointed Guan Zhong as his prime minister. Guan Zhong implemented reforms, strengthened the state, and made Qi one of the powerful states of the period, earning Duke Huan the title of "One Who Harnessed the Lords." Guan Zhong's reputation spread far and wide, and his descendants revered him as the founder of the Guan surname.

Migration and Distribution#

The Guan surname has two main branches, both descending from the Ji family. Among the many vassal states of the Western Zhou period, the state of Guan was established early but also disappeared early. After the execution of Shu Xian, his descendants dispersed to various places. During the Spring and Autumn period, many Guan descendants moved to Shandong, as well as parts of Anhui and northern Jiangsu and eastern Henan. In the Western Han Dynasty, historical records mention figures such as Lady Guan, the wife of Emperor Gaozu, and General Guan Gan. The Guan surname's prominence in the Pingyuan area likely emerged during the Qin and Han dynasties. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Guan Hai, a leader of a peasant army, and Guan Bo from Dunqiu (now Qingfeng, Henan Province) are also recorded in history. In the Three Kingdoms period, Guan Ning from Beihai County (now Linqu, Shandong Province) lived in Liaodong for over thirty years. During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, due to social unrest, some Guan descendants moved to the south and west. The Guan surname continued to thrive in Shandong, with notable figures such as Guan Zhong during the Spring and Autumn period and Guan Si Cang during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Modern Distribution of the Guan Surname#

Today, the Guan surname is widely distributed across China, with a significant presence in provinces like Jiangsu and Shandong, which account for about 63% of the total Han Chinese population with this surname. It ranks 140th among the most common surnames in China, with a population of approximately 0.09% of the total Han Chinese population.

Notable People with the Guan Surname#

Guan Zhong: A prominent politician from the Spring and Autumn period, he helped Duke Huan of Qi become one of the powerful states of that era. He authored the "Guanzi" (86 chapters).