Surname Origin
The recorded origin summary for Cai (蔡) is: 蔡叔度受封蔡国叙述. Treat this as a surname-level reference and compare it with the genealogy and local records of a specific branch.
Cai Surname
Source dataset record: 5,732,828Cai / Tsai · 济阳堂
Surname Profile
Surname TypeSingle-character surname
Clan Hall济阳堂
Commanderies济阳、汝南
Main Regions河南、福建、广东、台湾、东南亚
Ethnic DistributionHan Chinese and multi-ethnic branches
Source NoteVerify by local genealogies, gazetteers, steles and prefaces
Founder Narratives
The current source record describes 蔡叔度受封蔡国叙述. A branch founder, migration ancestor and surname-culture ancestor are separate identities and should be recorded separately.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Recorded clan hall: 济阳堂. Recorded commandery references: 济阳、汝南. Clan hall and commandery labels identify cultural or branch traditions; they do not by themselves prove direct ancestry.
National Distribution Clues
Recorded reference regions: 河南, 福建, 广东, 台湾, 东南亚. These labels are search indexes rather than proof of a migration route; compare prefecture, county, village and historical place names with branch records.
Migration and Distribution
The regional index records 河南、福建、广东、台湾、东南亚. A defensible migration timeline requires dated records linking an origin place, destination, people and documentary source.
Overseas Timeline
For overseas research, combine Cai, Tsai, ancestral county, clan hall, association records, cemetery inscriptions, immigration files and family oral history.
Generation Poem Reference
Generation names are useful only when tied to a named branch, genealogy edition, location and revision date. Similar words alone do not establish kinship.
Branch Generation Poems
Generation names are branch-specific records. Compare the original genealogy preface, branch location, clan hall, founding ancestor and revision date before linking two lineages.
Future Source Materials
The research record uses genealogy editions, gazetteers, stele images, ancestral hall inscriptions and oral-history metadata as separate evidence types.
Ancestral halls
- Record location, hall name, inscriptions, branch and photo source.
Genealogy prefaces
- Extract founder, migration place, generation poem and revision history.
Steles and oral history
- Keep original images, transcription, translation and interview metadata.
Start a Family Tree with This Surname
If you know your branch hall name, generation poem or ancestral place, you can first create relatives in ZongMai and then attach local branch records.
Start My Digital GenealogyNotable Cai people
Figures are sorted roughly by historical period. They are cultural references for surname research, not proof of direct ancestry.
- 蔡伦东汉宦官、技术人物
造纸术改进相关人物
- 蔡邕东汉文学家、书法家
经学与书法人物
- 蔡元培近现代教育家
北京大学校长
Regional Surname and Genealogy Topics
Connect surname pages with Sichuan, Guangdong Hakka, Fujian overseas, Henan origin, Northeast migration and Southeast Asian overseas Chinese research clusters.
Sichuan Surnames
Huguang-to-Sichuan migration and Sichuan Hakka genealogy clues.
View TopicGuangdong HakkaClan halls, generation names and overseas Hakka roots.
View TopicFujian Overseas RootsFujian qiaoxiang, Southeast Asian migration and overseas lineage records.
View TopicHenan OriginsCentral Plains surname origins, commanderies and clan halls.
View Topic