The Gou Clan#

Surname: Gou, pronunciation: gōu

Distribution of the Gou Clan#

Zhongshan Commandery: In ancient China, there were four places named “Zhongshan”:

1. During the Warring States period, it was the capital of the Gu state (now Ding County, Hebei Province). It was once conquered by the Wei state, later restored, and then moved to Lingshou (now Pingshan, Hebei Province). In the 19th year of King Hao of the Zhou Dynasty (Yichou, 296 BCE), it was conquered by the Zhao state. During the Qin Dynasty, it became part of Julu Commandery.
2. In the early years of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (Yimi, 206 BCE), Zhongshan Commandery was established (now Dengfeng, Henan Province). During the reign of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, it was renamed Zhongshan State, with its administrative center in Lunu (now Ding County, Hebei Province). Its territory included the areas between present-day Dengfeng and Zhengding in Hebei Province, including present-day Dingzhou, Anguo, Tang County, Xinle, Wuji, Mancheng, Wan County, Wangdu, and Baoding in Hebei. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it became the capital of the Later Yan state. In the early years of the Sui Dynasty (Xinchou, 581 CE), the state was abolished and the commandery was re-established.
3. During the Song Dynasty, Dingzhou was made the capital of Zhongshan Prefecture, with its administrative center in Anxi (now Ding County, Hebei Province).
4. During the Song Dynasty, there was also the Xiangshan County. After Sun Yat-sen’s death in the 14th year of the Republic of China (Yichou, 1925), the government renamed it Zhongshan County, which is now Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province. Sun Yat-sen’s hometown is in Cuiheng Village, southern Zhongshan City.
   Taiyuan Prefecture: Also known as Taiyuan Commandery.
   Chenliu Commandery: Established in the 26th year of King Ying Zheng of the Qin Dynasty (Gengchen, 221 BCE) as Chenliu County. In the 1st year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (Jiwèi, 122 BCE), it was renamed Chenliu Commandery, with its administrative center in Chenliu (now Kaifeng, Henan Province). Its territory extended from eastern Henan Province to present-day Minquan and Ningling counties in the south, Kaifeng City in the west, Yushi County in the west, Yanjin County in the north, and Qi County in the south.

Origins of the Gou Clan#

The Gou surname has the following origins:

1. It originates from the Ji surname, stemming from the fiefdoms of high-ranking officials during the Western Zhou Dynasty, with the surname being derived from the name of the fief.
2. It originates from a profession, specifically from Kuai Gou, a military engineer during the Qin and Han dynasties, with the surname being derived from his profession.
3. It originates from the Xiongnu tribe, specifically from Gou Wang, the nephew of the Xiongnu king Kunye during the Han Dynasty, who adopted a Han Chinese surname.
4. It originates from the Xianbei tribe, specifically from the Kehou clan of the Northern Wei Dynasty during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, who adopted a Han Chinese surname.
5. It originates from the Sai tribe, specifically from the descendants of General Yu Chigong during the Tang Dynasty, who adopted a new surname to escape persecution.

Ancestors of the Clan:
Hua Bo (Marquis Gou), Gou Wang, Kehou Clan, Yu Chigong.

Migration and Distribution:
The Gou clan is an ancient one with multiple origins. Although it is not among the top 300 surnames in mainland China, it is ranked 1,030th in Taiwan Province. The prominent families of the Gou clan come from Zhongshan Commandery (now Dengfeng, Henan), Taiyuan Commandery, and Chenliu Commandery. The Gou surname is not among the top 100 surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. According to the “Tongzhi·Shizhu Lue,” the clan originally came from the fiefdoms of high-ranking officials during the Zhou Dynasty, with descendants adopting the name of the fief as their surname. Another branch of the Gou clan originated from the Kehou clan of the Later Wei Dynasty, which changed its name to Gou. “Gou” originally referred to a valley in Henan Province, also known as Fufudi or Fufudui. Legend has it that more than 2,500 years ago, Prince Jin of King Ling of the Zhou Dynasty became an immortal on this mountain. Gou is located south of Yan County, Henan, and was part of the Hua state during the Spring and Autumn period, later becoming the fiefdom of the Gou clan. To this day, the name of Gou Mountain is still in use, and there is a town named Gou Town at the foot of the mountain, which is a necessary route to Dengfeng County. This is the birthplace of the Gou clan.

The Gou clan can be found in various locations across China, including Fengqiu County and Yanshi City in Zhengzhou, Yan County in Luoyang, Hua County in Anyang, Xihua County in Shangqiu, Sanmenxia City, Mengzhou City in Jiaozuo, Maijishan District and Beidao District in Tianshui, Qin'an County in Gansu, Qihe County and Cao County in Shandong, Gaoping City and Houma City in Shanxi, Ninghai County in Zhejiang, Santai County, Beichuan County and Jiange County in Mianyang, Jiangyou County in Sichuan, Beiguan District and Yanta District in Xi’an, Lintong County in Shaanxi, Fuping County in Yan’an, Weinan County in Shaanxi, Pucheng County in Shaanxi, Shanghai, Beijing, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yongqing County in Langfang, Hebei, Shenyang in Liaoning, and Wuhan in Hubei.

Hall Names:
Zhongshan Hall: Established based on the clan’s historical significance.
Taiyuan Hall: Established based on the clan’s historical significance.
Chenliu Hall: Established based on the clan’s historical significance.