Surname dossier
máSeptember 28, 2025麻姓
The Ma surname, pronounced 'má', has multiple origins including official titles, place names, and ethnic assimilation. Historically not a top surname, it became prominent in Shanggu. The clan distribution includes Huaillai, Hebei, and produced notable figures like Song scholar Ma Jiuchou and Tang painter Ma Juli.
Ranked #133
The Ma Clan
Surname: Ma, Pronunciation: má
Distribution of the Ma Clan
Huaillai, Hebei
Origins of the Ma Clan
The surname “Ma” has the following origins:
- It originates from the Mi clan, stemming from the fiefdom of a high-ranking official of the Chu state during the Zhou dynasty; the surname was derived from the name of the fiefdom.
- It originates from a place name, specifically the town of Mayi during the Warring States period in the Qin state; the surname was derived from the name of the settlement.
- It originates from a place name, referring to Guma, the capital of the Baekje state on the Korean Peninsula during the Han and Tang dynasties; the surname was formed through the sinicization of the place name.
- It originates from an official title, referring to officials with the title “Jiangma” during the Tang dynasty; the surname was derived from their official positions.
- It originates from ethnic minorities, as they adopted the Han Chinese surname as part of the sinicization process.
Migration and Distribution
The Ma clan is not among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. In the Song dynasty version of the “Hundred Family Surnames,” it was ranked 135th. The Ma clan became a prominent family in the Shanggu region, known as the “Shanggu Wang” (prominent family of Shanggu).
Famous People with the Surname Ma**
- Ma Jiuchou: A person from the Song dynasty, known as a child prodigy. He was well-versed in the classics and wrote with precision and unique style. Diligent and erudite, he had a thorough understanding of the Five Classics, especially the Spring and Autumn Annals. In the early years of the Zhengda era, he was granted the status of a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) and served as a Hanlin scholar. To study the I Ching, he extensively read Shao Yaofu’s “Huangji Shu.” Later, he also studied medical texts by Zhang Zhezi. His writings were precise and powerful, and his poetry was elegant and bold. He authored the “Zhiji Wenji” (Collected Works of Knowledge and Timing).
- Ma Juli: A painter from the Tang dynasty, renowned for his depictions of Buddha images. One of the murals in the Shengshou Temple in Shuzhou, depicting the Eight Difficulties of Guanyin, was created by him.