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Introduction to Surnames
The surname Tong derives from the Zhou‑era official title “Dian Tong,” whose eponymous ancestor is considered the progenitor of this lineage, making it the 506th most common surname in contemporary China. During the Ming dynasty, the earliest recorded Tong migrants originated from areas such as Pingyang Prefecture, Hongtong County, and Zhaocheng County. In the early Ming period, they were collectively relocated to other regions under imperial edict, with their descendants eventually settling across numerous provinces, including Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Beijing, Shaanxi, Gansu, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, and Shanxi. The earliest written record of the Tong surname appears in the Southern Song work “Gujin Xingshi Shu Bianzheng.” According to its etymological account, the surname originated as a patronymic based on an official post. As noted in “Gujin Xingshi Shu Bianzheng,” the Zhou dynasty’s administrative system included an office called “Dian Tong,” which belonged to the Ministry of Spring and was responsible for overseeing the music associated with the six laws and six tonal systems, thereby serving as the custodian of musical tradition.
The Hong surname traces its origins to Emperor Yan, with its earliest ancestors being Gonggong and Duke Gong. It ranks as the 107th most common surname in contemporary China. During the Ming dynasty, the Hong clan—descendants of those who migrated from the Great Locust Tree in Hongdong—were originally registered in areas such as Pingyang Prefecture, Hongdong County, and Zhaocheng County. In the early Ming period, they were ordered to gather at the Great Locust Tree in Hongdong for relocation to other regions. By the late Qing dynasty, their descendants had spread across numerous provinces, including Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Shanxi. The earliest recorded mention of the Hong surname appears in the Tang‑dynasty work “Yuanhe Xingzuan.” [Origins of the Surname] There are four primary sources for this surname: ① It derives from the Jiang clan, originating with the descendants of Gonggong. According to “Xingshi Jiju”…
The surname traces its origins to the Ximen clan, with Ximen Bao as its progenitor. During the Ming dynasty, the ancestors of the Xi family who migrated from the Great Locust Tree in Hongdong were originally registered in Pingyang Prefecture, Hongdong County, and Zhaocheng County. In the early Ming period, they were ordered to assemble at the Great Locust Tree in Hongdong for relocation to other regions. By the late Qing dynasty, their descendants had spread across Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shaanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Shanxi, and other areas. The earliest recorded mention of the Xi surname appears in the Southern Song dynasty’s “Xingyuan.” [Origin of the Surname] The surname derives from the descendants of Ximen Bao. According to the “Xingyuan,” some of Ximen Bao’s descendants abbreviated their name to simply “Xi.” Ximen Bao served as the magistrate of Ye during the reign of King Wenhou of Wei in the Warring States period. At first, the people of Ye suffered greatly from flooding, while local powerful officials colluded with shamans and priests, exploiting the superstition surrounding the River God’s bride‑taking ritual.
The surname Shan traces its origins to the Liexian clan, with its founding ancestor being Shan Shi. It ranks as the 490th most common surname in contemporary China. During the Ming dynasty, the Shan ancestors who migrated from Hongdong’s Great Locust Tree were originally registered in Pingyang Prefecture, Hongdong County, and Zhaocheng County. In the early Ming period, they were ordered to gather at the Great Locust Tree in Hongdong for relocation to other regions. By the end of the Qing dynasty, their descendants had spread across Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Beijing, Shaanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Shanxi, and other areas. The earliest recorded mention of the Shan surname appears in the Eastern Han text “Fengsu Tong • Surname Chapter.” [Origins of the Surname] There are three primary sources for this surname: ① It descends from the descendants of Emperor Yan. According to “Fengsu Tongyi,” among the ancient imperial lineage of Emperor Yan, one branch was known as the Liexian clan, and the descendants of the Liexian clan…
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