Yang Family Name#

Family Name: Yang#

Pronunciation: yáng

Distribution of the Yang Family Name#

• Yishui Commandery: Corresponds to the current territory of Yishui County, Linyi City, Shandong Province.
• Longxi Commandery: Established in the 28th year of King Zhaoxiang of Qin during the Warring States period (279 BCE). It was named after its location west of the Long Mountains, with its administrative center in Didao (present-day Lintao, Gansu). At that time, its jurisdiction included the middle course of the Tao River east of Dongxiang County, the upper course of the Wei River west of Wushan, the upper course of the Xihanshui River north of Lixian, and the eastern part of Tianshan City in Gansu Province. This area encompasses present-day Lanzhou, Lintao, Gongchang, and Qinzhou in Gansu.
• Yangdu County: A county name during the Han Dynasty, under the jurisdiction of Langya Commandery in Xu Province. Its territory was around Huangtuan Village, east of Zhuanbu Township in Yinan County, Shandong Province.

Origins of the Yang Family Name#

The Yang family name has several origins:

1. From the Ji surname: Derived from the fief of Ji Fan, a son of King Jing of Zhou during the Eastern Zhou period, and was named after the state name.
2. From the Xianbei people: Originated from the Mo Hulu tribe of the northern Xianbei, which adopted a Chinese surname after assimilation.
3. From the Ji surname: Derived from Yang Chufu, a Grand Tutor of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn period, and was named after the name of his fief.
4. From the Mi surname: Derived from Zi Xia, the Minister of Justice of the Chu State during the Spring and Autumn period, and was named after the name of his fief.
5. From compound surnames: Derived from ancient compound surnames containing the character “Yang”, which were simplified over time.
6. From the Khitan people: Originated from the Nala tribe of the Western Liao dynasty during the Song period, which adopted a Chinese surname after assimilation.
7. From the Mongolian people: Originated from descendants of the Taidang Khan of the Mongol Naiman tribe during the Song period, which adopted a Chinese surname after assimilation.
8. From name changes: Some changed their surname during the Southern Song period for refuge or other reasons.
9. From other ethnic minorities: Some ethnic minorities adopted the Yang surname after assimilation.
10. From the Ji surname: Derived from the ancient state of Yang during the Western Zhou period, and was named after the state name.
11. From the Ji surname: Derived from Ji Sun Yanghu, a high-ranking official of the Lu State during the Spring and Autumn period, and was named after his ancestor's name.

Founding Ancestors of the Yang Family#

The founding ancestors of the Yang family include Yang Fan (Ji Fan), Ji Sun Yanghu (Yang Huo), Yang Chufu, Ling Yin Zi Xia (Gongzi Xia, Mi Xia), Yelü Dashi, Bietieqi Quchulu, and Yang Daxun. The Yang surname originated from the Ji surname. Around 544 BCE, during the reign of King Jing of Zhou, King Jing granted his younger son, Fan, the fief of Yang (located southeast of present-day Jiyuan, Henan Province), and he is thus known as Yang Fan. Descendants of King Jing’s younger son fled to the State of Yan to avoid internal strife and adopted the “Yang” character from their former fief as their surname. Many Yang family members consider Yang Fan the founding ancestor of the Yang lineage.

Migration and Distribution#

The Yang family is a diverse and ancient clan with multiple origins. It ranks 167th in the list of common surnames in mainland China and 195th in Taiwan Province, with a population of about 630,000, accounting for approximately 0.0037% of the national population. Prominent Yang clans are found in Yishui and Longxi commanderies. The Yang surname is not among the top 100 most common surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. Over 2,500 years ago, during the reign of King Jing of Zhou, the state of Yang was annexed by the neighboring state of Qi. After its destruction, the descendants of the Yang people adopted the name of their former state as their surname. The Yang family traces its origins to the ancient state of Yang. According to historical records, the state of Yang was a small vassal state of the Zhou Dynasty, located in what is now Yishui County, Shandong Province. Some Yang clan members migrated to the State of Yan to escape chaos during the Zhou period and adopted the name of their former state as their surname. The birthplace of the Yang clan is believed to be in the southern part of Yishui County, Shandong Province.

Clans and Halls#

• Yishui Hall: Established based on the family’s historical roots in Yishui Commandery.
• Yangdu Hall: Established based on the family’s historical roots in Longxi Commandery.
• Longxi Hall: Established based on the family’s historical roots in Longxi Commandery.

Notable People with the Yang Surname#

• Yang Ni: A man from the Northern Wei dynasty, known for his love of learning and extensive knowledge. He authored thousands of books but died before completing them.
• Yang Xiuzhi: A descendant of Yang Ni, who held various official positions during the Northern Wei and Northern Qi dynasties and authored the “Youzhou Renwu Zhi” (Biographies of People from Youzhou).