The Lan Clan#

Clan Name: Lan, pronounced as “lán”

Regions Where the Lan Clan Is Found**#

Zhengding, Hebei Province; Yishui, Shandong Province; Shangcai, Henan Province

Origin of the Lan Clan#

The Lan Clan ranks 260th among the most common surnames in China, with a relatively large population, accounting for approximately 0.02% of the total Han population in the country.

Origins of the Surname “Lan”:

1. The surname originated from an imperial grant. According to the “Lan Clan Genealogy,” the founding ancestor of the Lan Clan was Lord Changqi. Lord Changqi was the 11th descendant of the Yan Emperor Shennong and the son of Yuwang.
2. It also originated from the Ying surname. As recorded in “Shi Xing Kao Lüe” and “Zhu Shu Ji Nian,” during the third year of King Hui of Liang, a person named Qin Zi Xiang was granted the title of Lord Lan; the place “Lan” referred to Lantian (now in Shaanxi), and his descendants adopted this place name as their surname.
3. Another origin suggests that the Lan Clan descended from the Mi surname. According to “Bai Jia Xing Kao Lüe,” members of the Chu royal family held lands in the area of Lanyi, and their descendants took this place name as their surname.
4. The Lan Clan can also be traced back to the She, Hui, Manchu, and Yao ethnic groups. The Yao people make up the majority of those with the Lan surname. The Lan Clan is most prevalent in Guangxi, especially among the Yao population in counties and cities such as Du'an, Bama, and Dahan, with nearly a million members of this ethnic group bearing the Lan surname. In Fujian, many members of the Lan Clan are also Yao people, and their genealogy indicates migration from Hunan to Fujian and then to Guangxi.

Spread and Migration of the Clan

After the Han and Wei dynasties, the Lan Clan spread from the regions of Zhongshan, Dongguan, and Runan to provinces along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. Some members also migrated south to Anhui, Hubei, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, there was a significant southward migration. A branch of the Lan Clan from Runan moved to Lanwei Yi in present-day Shanghang, Fujian. In the second year of the Guangshun era of the Later Zhou dynasty (952 AD), a descendant named Lan Youshan moved to Lianjiazhuang in Huitongli, and his descendants further dispersed to Qingliu, Shunchang, and Shicheng. The Lan Clan also entered Guangdong during the late Tang and Five Dynasties period; for example, Lan Jizong from Nanhai, Guangdong, was a descendant of this lineage. According to the “Lan Clan Genealogy” of Wuhua, Guangdong, “The 17th generation’s Wan Yilang moved from Chongshan Fang in Jianning to Huabi Township in Ninghua. The 19th generation’s He Erlang moved from Ninghua to Zhangzhou during the Song dynasty. The 21st generation’s 26th descendant moved to Meixian, Guangdong, becoming the founding ancestor of the Lan Clan in Meixian. His descendants later spread to Xingning, Changle, Baoan, Huizhou, and Hangzhou, Zhejiang.” Southern Fujian was a prosperous area for the Lan Clan during the Song dynasty. The “Guangzhou Chu Ji Lan Ding Yuan Xing Zhang” records that the Lan Clan has historically lived in Mingxi, Zhangpu, Fujian. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, the Lan Clan thrived not only in Fujian but also in Guangdong. Many members migrated to Guangxi during the chaotic times at the end of the Song dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan dynasty; some also moved north to Hunan and Sichuan.

Modern Distribution of the Clan

Today, the Lan Clan is widely distributed throughout China, with a high concentration in provinces such as Guangxi and Guangdong. These two provinces account for about 86% of the total Han population with the Lan surname in China.

Notable People with the Lan Surname:

• Lan Yu: A person from the Ming dynasty, from Dingyuan (now in Anhui). He was a brave general under the command of Chang Yuchun, who led many battles. He was granted the title of Duke of Liang and later promoted to Duke of Liang for his contributions. However, he became arrogant and committed many illegal acts, leading to his execution for “rebellion.” This incident resulted in the execution of more than 15,000 people, known in history as the “Lan Case,” which implicated numerous nobles, officials, and military officers.
• Lan Rui: A scholar from Dengzhou, Henan. He passed the imperial examinations during the Ming dynasty and served as the governor of Hanzhong. After retiring, he wrote works such as “Ri Sheng Pian,” “Qiu Ren Lu,” and “Tuan Nan Gao.”