Surname Overview
Overview
The surname Ben is pronounced bēn; its lineage is traced to Qin Fei, with Ben Fu regarded as its founding ancestor.
Ben Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 33,028Ben / Ben
Origins
The surname has two main origins: one derives from the Ying lineage, whose descendants of Ben Fu adopted his name as their surname; the other derives from the official title hǔbēn, whose descendants adopted “Ben” as their surname.
Historical Records
Documentary Attestation
The earliest record of the Ben surname is found in the Han-era Fengsu Tong, in the section on surnames.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commandery And Hall
The principal commandery associated with the Ben surname is Xuancheng Commandery, and its principal hall name is Qisi Hall.
Migration and Distribution
Migration And Distribution
Ben families were among the migrants from the Big Locust Tree in Hongdong, Shanxi, in the early Ming; by the late Qing, their descendants were distributed across Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Beijing, and Shanxi. One branch in Puyang, Henan, moved from Hongdong in the early Ming to Benzhai Village, Bagongqiao Town, Puyang County.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Historical figures include Ben Pu of the Lu state in the Spring and Autumn period; Ben He, Ben Hao, Ben Li, and Ben Sheng in the Han dynasty; Ben Heng in the Yuan dynasty; and Ben Long in the Ming dynasty.
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Surname attestation references
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