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tánSeptember 28, 2025

谈姓

The surname Tan, an ancient Chinese surname ranking 118th, originates from the state of Tan granted by King Wu of Zhou, with lineages in Henan and Hebei, and notable bearers like Qing scholar Tan Qian.

Ranked #117
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Discussion on the Surname “Tan”

Surname: Tan, Pronunciation: tán

Regions where the Surname “Tan” is Found

Yongnian County, Henan Province; Shangqiu County, Henan Province

Origin of the Surname “Tan”

The surname “Tan” is not very common in China, but it is one of the older surnames in the country. It ranks 118th in the “Hundred Surnames” list.

Origins of the Surname “Tan”:

  1. After King Wu of Zhou established the Zhou Dynasty, he honored the virtues of the ancient sages and kings. He enfeoffed Wei Zi Qi, the eldest son of Emperor Yi of Yin, in the state of Song, which was also known as the state of Tan. The dynasty lasted for 36 generations until it was conquered by the Chu Dynasty. The descendants took the name of the state as their surname.
  2. According to the “Xing Yuan” (Garden of Surnames), “Wei Zi Qi, the eldest son of Emperor Yi of Yin, was enfeoffed by King Wu of Zhou in Song. The dynasty lasted for 36 generations until it was conquered by the Chu Dynasty. The descendants took the name of the state as their surname.” This lineage also spread to the regions of Liang and Guangping (Guangping Commandery was established during the Han Dynasty; it is now located in Jize County, Hebei Province).
  3. During the Zhou Dynasty, there was a high-ranking official named Ji Tan, and his descendants also adopted the surname Tan. There is a legend that some members of the Tan family changed their surname to Tan to avoid persecution.
  4. Some believe the surname originated from the family name “Ji”. It is said that descendants of Shao Hao were granted the fief of Tan (located southwest of present-day Tancheng, Shandong Province). In the early Warring States period, the state of Tan was conquered by the state of Yue, and its descendants adopted “Tan” as their surname. In ancient times, the characters “Tan” and “Tan” were pronounced the same and were used interchangeably.

Notable People with the Surname “Tan”: Tan Qian: His courtesy name was Rumu. He was from Haining during the Qing Dynasty. A scholar of the late Ming Dynasty, he chose to live in seclusion during the Qing period and devoted himself to studying the history of governance and the various anecdotes of past dynasties. He wrote several books, including “Guo Que”, “Zaolin Ji”, “Beiyou Lu”, “Xiyi Lu”, “Zaolin Zazu”, “Zaolin Waisu”, and “Haichang Waizhi”.