The Que Family#

Family Name: Que, Pronunciation: quē

Distribution of the Que Family#

Xiapí Commandery: Originally part of Linhuai Commandery, it was renamed Xiapí State during the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is located in the northwest of Suining County, Jiangsu Province today. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Xiapí State was once again reorganized into a commandery. The administrative center was Xiapí, corresponding to the northwest region of Jiangsu Province today.

Origins of the Que Family Name#

The Que family name has three possible origins:

1. It may originate from a place name. In ancient times, there was a county called Quegong, and the people living there adopted the name Que as their surname.
2. It could also derive from a fiefdom name. During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a town in the state of Lu named Que Dang. Someone who was granted this fiefdom took the name of the place as their surname.
3. Another possibility is that the surname came from a place name. Confucius once lived in Que Li, and later residents of that area adopted the name of the place as their surname.

Ancestral Founder of the Que Family
According to the book Shìxìng Kǎolüe (A Brief Study of Surnames), the Que family name originates from Que Dang, Confucius' hometown. According to this book, the Que family descended from a man named Tongzi from Que Dang. Another theory suggests that a descendant of Quegong adopted the name of the place as their surname, with the prominent Que clan originating from Xiapí. Mei Fu's biography in the Han Shu (History of the Han Dynasty) mentions that Que Li was Confucius' former neighborhood, which supports the Que family's connection to Que Dang. Therefore, the Que family's ancestral home was likely in the area around present-day Qufu, Shandong Province. The prominent Que clan settled in Xiapí Commandery, which is now Xiapí Ancient City in Pí County, Jiangsu Province. The descendants of the Que family regard Tongzi as their ancestral founder.

Migration and Distribution
The Que family name does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. According to Fēngsú Tōngyì (General Principles of Customs), the Que family name is derived from a place name. In ancient times, a structure called “que” was often built in front of palaces, temples, and tombs; these symmetrical structures reflected the status and power of the family. The Que family's lineage can be traced back to around 3700 years ago, during the reign of King Jie of the Xia Dynasty. Various genealogies state that the Que family descended from Guan Longfeng. Historical records show that Jie, known for his tyranny, imprisoned and executed Longfeng for his criticism. After Longfeng's death, his descendants migrated east along the Yellow River during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. It was during the reign of Duke Xiang of Lu that a descendant of Longfeng arrived in Qufu County, Shandong Province. The Que family began to use the place name as their surname.

Notes on the Family Name

• The Que family's ancestral founder is Tongzi.
• According to Shìxìng Kǎolüe, the Que family name originated from Que Dang, Confucius' hometown.
• The Que family name may have also come from a fiefdom name (such as Que Dang) or a place name (such as Que Li where Confucius lived).
• The Que family's prominence can be seen in their residence in Xiapí Commandery during the Han Dynasty.

Migration History
The Que family did not make it into the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. Their name is derived from a place name, specifically a type of ancient architectural structure used in palaces and temples.

Honorary Titles and Clans

• The Que family has held honorable titles and has been a prominent clan throughout history.
• For example, a 26th-generation descendant, Que Xuan, served as the governor of Xiapí during the reign of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty and later moved to Tanzhou (present-day Changsha, Hunan Province), marking the beginning of the family's migration to southern China.
• A 52nd-generation descendant, Que Zhongren, was a government official in Fujian during the Northern Song Dynasty.

Common Couplets for the Que Family Ancestral Hall

• Four-character couplets for the Que family ancestral hall:
  • “Talent gained fame; the governor achieved renown.” (This couplet refers to a Que official who was known for his abilities.)
  • “Served as governor of Jingzhou; his policies benefited the region.”
  • “Marqued as Yingwei; descended from Xiapí.”
  • “The Que family's reputation extends far; their blessings have lasted for generations.”
  • “The Que family's legacy in Que Li endures; their influence in Jingzhou is long.”
  • “Elevated to the position of imperial censor; their kindness and generosity are admired.”
  • “The Que family's lineage dates back to ancient times; their achievements are celebrated in various regions.”

These couplets reflect the family's history and contributions to different regions throughout China.