Bei Surname

Surname Overview

A Rare Surname

The surname Bei is pronounced běi. It has about 6,000 present-day bearers and ranks 841st, making it a rare Han Chinese surname.

Reference: 北姓_北氏_北姓的起源_北姓有哪些名人_北姓来源及历史 - 2345查

Origins

Jiang, Compound-Surname, and Guibei Lineages

One group of origin traditions derives Bei from members of Chiyou's people resettled in the northern lands, from the simplification of compound surnames such as Beiren, Beimeng, Beiguan, Beiguo, and Beiye, and from the ancient Guibei tribe through Guibei, the third consort of Emperor Yu.

Reference: 北姓_北氏_北姓的起源_北姓有哪些名人_北姓来源及历史 - 2345查

Goguryeo, Zhang, and Bei-State Lineages

Three other origin traditions derive Bei from Goguryeo migrants whose Beiren surname was shortened to Bei, from Zhang descendants who adopted Bei while fleeing danger in the Ming period, and from people of the state of Bei who used 邶 as their surname before simplifying it to 北.

Reference: 北姓_北氏_北姓的起源_北姓有哪些名人_北姓来源及历史 - 2345查

Historical Records

Genealogical Attestations

The Xu Tongzhi, Shizulüe records Bei and quotes Zhengzitong classifying it as a Goguryeo surname. Xingshi Kaolüe connects it with the alteration of surnames including Beimeng, Beigong, Beiguo, Beiren, and Beiye, while Xingshi Cidian, citing Xingyuan, describes it as a surname based on direction.

Reference: 北姓_北姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commandery and Hall Names

The Bei surname's commandery associations include Xuantu and Liaodong. Its hall names are Xuantu Hall and Liaodong Hall, both established from those commandery associations.

Reference: 北姓_北氏_北姓的起源_北姓有哪些名人_北姓来源及历史 - 2345查

Migration and Distribution

Present Distribution

Bearers of the Bei surname are geographically dispersed and are found in Huanghua and Quyang in Hebei, Xi'an in Shaanxi, Fenyang in Shanxi, Dechang in Sichuan, and Baotou in Inner Mongolia.

Reference: 北姓_北氏_北姓的起源_北姓有哪些名人_北姓来源及历史 - 2345查