蓬姓
The surname Peng, pronounced péng, has ancient origins from the Western Han dynasty or a Zhou fiefdom. Its progenitor, Peng Qiu, reportedly experienced a legendary time-dilation event. Historically prominent in Beihai and Changle commanderies, it is not among the top 100 surnames in China or Taiwan today.
The Peng Family Name
Family Name: Peng, Pronunciation: péng
Regions Where the Peng Family Name Is Found
- Changle Commandery: There are two locations associated with this commandery. One was established during the Northern Wei and Sui dynasties in what is now Yixian County, Hebei Province. The other was established during the Tang dynasty and is located within the territory of present-day Fujian Province.
- Beihai Commandery: Established during the Han dynasty, it is situated in present-day Shandong Province.
Origins of the Peng Family Name
There are two theories regarding the origin of the Peng family name:
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Derived from a Plant: During the Western Han dynasty, a man named Peng Qiu went to the mountains to cut wood. Suddenly, he smelled a very fragrant odor. Following the scent, he discovered a magnificent building. Inside, he saw four exceptionally beautiful women playing the piano and other musical instruments. Peng Qiu was terrified and quickly fled. When he looked back, everything had disappeared. Upon returning home, he found that many years had passed—by the time of the Jianping era, he had unknowingly spent nearly 90 years in the mountains. His home had been turned into ruins overgrown with weeds. He then adopted the name of the plant he had seen (grass) as his family name, and his descendants followed this tradition.
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Derived from a Fiefdom: During the Western Zhou dynasty, some descendants of the royal lineage were granted a fiefdom in Pengzhou. They adopted the name of their fiefdom as their family name, thus becoming the Peng family.
Progenitor of the Family Name:
Peng Qiu, with the courtesy name Bojian, was from Beihai during the Western Han dynasty. During the Taishi era, he went to the mountains to cut wood when he smelled a fragrant odor. Following the scent, he found a magnificent building where four beautiful women were playing music. Frightened, he left and, upon returning, realized that a great deal of time had passed (nearly 100 years). His home had been destroyed and overgrown with weeds. He named his family after the plant he had seen, and his descendants continued this tradition.
Distribution of the Family Name:
The Peng family name does not rank among the top 100 most common family names in mainland China or Taiwan. In ancient times, the prominent families with the Peng surname originated from Beihai.