The Xiang Family#

Surname: Xiang, pronounced as “xiàng”

Geographic Distribution of the Xiang Family**#

Leiting, Hebei Province; Dalinghe, Liaoning Province

Origin of the Xiang Family#

The surname “Xiang” has the following origins:

1. It originates from the Ji surname. During the Zhou Dynasty, there was a state called Xiang, located in what is now Xiangcheng, Henan Province. Xiang was a vassal state of the same Ji surname as the Zhou Dynasty. In 647 BC, it was conquered by the state of Chu, and the descendants of the Xiang ruler adopted the name of the state as their surname, becoming the Xiang clan.
2. It also originates from the Mi surname, being descendants of the royal family of Chu. During the Spring and Autumn Period, a prince of Chu named Yan was granted the fief of Xiangcheng (now Xiangcheng County, Henan Province), where he established the state of Xiang. Later, when Xiang was conquered by the state of Qi, his descendants took the name “Xiang” as their surname.

Migration and Distribution

Among the many surnames, the origin of the Xiang surname is relatively straightforward. Historical records indicate that the Xiang surname stems from the Mi surname. Prince Yan of Chu, a member of the royal family, was granted the territory of Xiang for his contributions and established the state of Xiang. In 647 BC, this small state was defeated by Duke Huan of Qi, and the people who lived there began using the name of the state as their surname. According to the “Guangyun” dictionary, although the Xiang surname originates from the Mi surname, the ancestors of the Mi family were actually descendants of the Ji surname of King Wen of Zhou. Therefore, tracing back to the roots, the Xiang surname can be considered a descendant of the Ji clan. The Xiang surname is not among the top 100 most common surnames in either mainland China or Taiwan. Over time, the Xiang family became a prominent clan in the Liaoxi region, known as the “Liaoxi Wang” (a prestigious clan from Liaoxi). The Xiang surname is quite common today, accounting for approximately 0.06% of the Han population in China, ranking 163rd in popularity. It is particularly prevalent in provinces such as Hunan, Zhejiang, Hubei, and Guizhou, where it makes up about 74% of the total Xiang population in the country.

Notable People with the Xiang Surname

Xiang Yu: A leader of the peasant uprising at the end of the Qin Dynasty, whose given name was Ji and courtesy name was Yu. He was a member of the Chu nobility, known for his great strength and exceptional talent. After his uncle Xiang Liang led the uprising in Wuzhong, Xiang Yu took command of his army following Xiang Liang’s death. He achieved a decisive victory against the Qin army at Julu, killing more than 200,000 surrendered Qin soldiers. After entering the pass, Xiang Yu proclaimed himself the “Overlord of Western Chu” and fought against Liu Bang for control of China, achieving numerous victories. In 202 BC, he was besieged by Liu Bang at Gaixia, escaped to the Wu River, and committed suicide.