An Surname

Surname Overview

Origins and Communities

The origins of the An surname are complex and may be closely connected with foreign peoples and ethnic minorities.

Reference: 安姓起源分布与家谱家族

Origins

Main Lineages

Recorded origins include descendants of the kings of Anxi, people of the An kingdom among the Tang-era Zhaowu Nine Surnames, and the Sinicized Anchi clan of the Daibei Xianbei in the Northern Wei.

Reference: 洪洞大槐树 | 每期一姓——安姓_始祖_安息_山西

Historical Records

Earliest Attestation

The earliest recorded mention of the An surname appears in the Eastern Han work Fengsu Tong, in the section on surnames.

Reference: 洪洞大槐树 | 每期一姓——安姓_始祖_安息_山西

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Hall Name

The principal commanderies associated with the An surname are Liangzhou, Guzang, and Wuling, and its main hall name is Pouxin Hall, associated with An Jinzang, a Tang court musician and grand director.

Reference: 洪洞大槐树 | 每期一姓——安姓_始祖_安息_山西

Migration and Distribution

From the early Ming through the Yongle period, An lineages from Hongdong in Shanxi migrated to areas including Hebei, Henan, and Shandong. Today, the surname is mainly distributed in Hebei, Anhui, Shandong, and Liaoning.

Reference: 洪洞大槐树 | 每期一姓——安姓_始祖_安息_山西

Notable People

Historical Figures

Historical figures bearing the An surname include An Shigao of the Eastern Han, An Tong and An Yuan of the Northern Wei, An Jinzang and An Lushan of the Tang, and An You and An Tong of the Yuan.

Reference: 洪洞大槐树 | 每期一姓——安姓_始祖_安息_山西