Qi Family Name#

Family Name: Qi, Pronunciation: qí

Distribution of the Qi Family Name#

Ruanan Commandery in Henan Province, Gaoyang Commandery in Hebei Province, and Zhongshan Commandery in Hebei Province.

Origin of the Qi Family Name#

The Qi family name ranks 134th among the most common family names in China today, with a significant population, accounting for approximately 0.1% of the total Han population in the country.

Origins of the Qi Family Name:

1. Some descendants of the Jiang family adopted the state name as their surname. According to the "Yuanhe Xingzuan," in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, Jiang Ziya (also known as Taigong Wang) was granted a fief at Yingqiu (located in present-day Linzi City, Shandong Province) and established the state of Qi, which later became one of the Five Hegemons during the Spring and Autumn period. After the Tian family took over Qi, the original royal family adopted the Qi surname.
2. Others descended from the Ji family, using the name of their paternal grandfather as their surname. According to the "Tongzhi Shizú Lüe," during the Spring and Autumn period, a high-ranking official from the state of Wei named Qi Ziyi had descendants who adopted his grandfather's name as their surname.
3. There are also Qi family members from ethnic minorities in the northwest. As recorded in the "Jin Shu," the Di people of Wudu had the Qi surname, including a notable individual named Qi Wannian.

Ancestor of the Qi Family Name: Jiang Taigong (also known as Lü Shang), a renowned military strategist and politician from the late Shang and early Zhou dynasties. He was appointed as an advisor to King Wen of Zhou and played a key role in the overthrow of the Shang dynasty. After the Tian family took over Qi, the original royal family adopted the state name as their surname, with Jiang Taigong revered as the ancestor of the Qi lineage.

Migration and Distribution: The Qi family name originated from the state of Qi during the Zhou Dynasty. In 386 BCE, King An of Zhou was forced to recognize Tian He as the ruler of Qi. This transition occurred peacefully, with little conflict, and most Qi family members remained in Qi. During the late Spring and Autumn period, the Qi name began to spread to regions such as Henan and Hebei. During the Qin and Han dynasties, the Qi family name became more widespread in northern China, forming significant communities in Gaoyang, Zhongshan, and Ruanan commanderies.

Notable People with the Qi Family Name:

• Qi Gai: A nobleman from the Western Han Dynasty, who served as a general and was granted the title of "Han Xian" by Emperor Ping.
• Qi Tang: An official and scholar from Kuaiji Commandery (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province).
• Qi Zhi Luan: A painter from Tongcheng, Anhui Province, who became a prominent artist during the Ming Dynasty.
• Qi Baishi: A famous painter from Hunan Province who specialized in traditional Chinese painting and seal carving.

Current Distribution: Today, the Qi family name is widely distributed throughout China, with a concentration in the northeastern provinces, Hebei, and Henan. Approximately 62% of the total Han population with the Qi surname lives in these areas. In present-day Shandong Province, notable Qi communities include Beiqi Village, Baishi Pu (Qiling), Dongxiaoliu, Jiwangcheng, Yanzhuang, and Jigou. In Henan Province, communities such as Zhangying Village (Qijiekou), Yuanzhuang, and Lüzhuang are also prominent.

The Qi family name continues to thrive, with many notable individuals and thriving communities across China.