钮姓
The Niu surname, ranked 191st in China, originated from Jiangnan, with Wuxing as a key ancestral commandery. It has a 1700-year history, spreading nationwide from its Zhejiang/Jiangsu roots, with Manchu origins and notable historical bearers.
The Niu Family
Surname: Niu, pronounced as “niǔ”
Areas with a Niu Family Presence**
Wuxing Commandery: Established during the Han Dynasty, with its administrative center in Huzhou (the area around present-day Huzhou, Zhejiang Province).
Origin of the Niu Surname**
The Niu surname ranks 191st among the most common surnames in China. It is a relatively rare surname with a small number of bearers, spread across various regions. Current populations can be found in Beijing, Wuqing in Tianjin, Shangyi and Ding County (now Jiangniuzhuang, Dingzhou) in Hebei, Yima in Henan, Pingdu in Shandong, Taiyuan and Yanggao in Shanxi, Hongtong in Shanxi, Qingyuan in Liaoning, Wuhai in Inner Mongolia, Huzhou in Zhejiang, Wujiang and Liuhe in Jiangsu, Chongjiang in Jiangxi, and Bengbu in Anhui. Additionally, the Niu surname is also present in Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Guangdong, Shanghai, Yunnan, Guangxi, and other places. In Wujiang City, Jiangsu, there is the village of Zhaoliqiao, where the entire community has the Niu surname.
Origins of the Surname “Niu”
- During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, a descendant of Xuanyi Gong, who lived in Hualin, Wuxing (now Huzhou, Zhejiang Province) (ranked 26th in his family), married the eighth consort of King Fuchai of Wu (reigned 495–473 BCE). Xuanyi Gong served as the commander of the royal cavalry at that time. As a relative of the royal family, he was granted the official seal with the inscription “Niu,” which became the basis for his surname. Over time, this evolved into the modern spelling “Niu.”
- The Niu family is also one of the ten noble surnames of the Manchu ethnicity. For example, Niu Hululu was a prominent Manchu figure. According to historical records, the Niu Hululu clan has lived in the northeastern regions for generations, adopting the local name as their surname. After the Qing Dynasty, some members of this clan adopted Han surnames such as “Lang” or “Niu.”
Migration and Distribution**
The Niu surname has been present in China for approximately 1,700 years, dating back to the Jin Dynasty. According to records from the Dahuai Tree Ancestral Hall in Hongtong County, Shanxi Province, descendants of the Niu family have migrated to regions such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hebei, and Gansu. Scholars have determined that the ancestral home of the Niu family was in the areas south of the Yangtze River, specifically in present-day Jiangsu and Zhejiang. These people were born and raised there, and to this day, the largest concentration of Niu-bearing individuals can still be found in these regions. Many outstanding individuals with the Niu surname have emerged throughout history.
The Niu surname first originated in the Jiangnan region. Over time, it spread to various places throughout China, forming multiple branches, with Wuxing Commandery (including the areas from Linan, Zhejiang to Yixing, Jiangsu) being one of the primary ancestral areas. The Niu family has a long history of migration and has become widespread across the country.
Famous People with the Niu Surname**
- Niu Fuchou: A poet from Wucheng during the Qing Dynasty, known for his poetry. He served as a local official and left behind a collection of poems titled “Youye Qiuzhai Shichao” (Poems from Qiuzhai Studio).
- Niu Fubao: From Wucheng (now Wuxing County, Zhejiang), he was the top scholar (number one on the imperial examinations) during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, with the courtesy name You Shen and the pseudonym Songquan. His birth and death years are unknown.