Surname Overview
Overview
The Ai surname is relatively rare. It is pronounced āi and may also be pronounced yī. It is found among both Han and Yao people, with Nankang and Dongyang as its commanderies of origin.
Ai Surname
Surname profileAi / Ai
Origins
Multiple Origins
The Ai surname is mainly associated with the Ji, Mi, and Ying surnames. The listed progenitors include Ji Jiang, Duke Ai of Lu; Ai Daita; Gongxi Ai; Liu Xin, Emperor Ai of Han; Jiulong of Ailao; and Li Zuo, Emperor Ai of Tang.
Historical Records
Early Attestations
The account that descendants of Duke Ai of Lu formed the Ai surname appears in the Fengsu Tongyi: collateral descendants of Duke Ai used his posthumous title as their surname and became known as the Ai clan.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Halls
The Ai clan's commanderies of origin are Nankang and Dongyang. Its hall names include Nankang Hall, Dongyang Hall, and Aili Hall.
Migration and Distribution
Distribution and Migration
Ai clan members are found in Yudu, Ji'an, and Ganzhou in Jiangxi; Dali in Yunnan; Jinhua in Zhejiang; and Quanzhou in Fujian. The overview also lists Pucheng, Qingyuan, Taiyuan, Yuncheng, Jianli, Lengshuijiang, Guanyang, and Hejiang.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Ai Zhong was a Han-period expert pear grower; Ai Zhang was a favored minister of Wang Mang in the Xin dynasty; Ai Changji was a Song official and poet; and Ai Shiyong was a Ming official.
Continue your family research
Start with ancestral counties, villages, personal names and dates. Record genealogy titles, volumes, editions and catalog identifiers. A shared surname does not prove a shared lineage; compare branch records.
Surname attestation references
These catalogs or datasets attest written names, not every origin or lineage claim on this page.
This page includes automatically organized material. Check the references and original family documents.
Add or correct information
Submit the information and a reference link for possible inclusion on this page.