Chang Surname

Surname Overview

The Chang surname ranks 80th in the Song edition of Hundred Family Surnames and 87th in the current surname ranking, with a population of approximately 2.953 million, or about 0.18% of China’s total population.

Reference: 常氏家谱网 提供11个省区市的28部常氏家谱、常氏族谱

Origins

Main Origins

Chang is a surname with multiple origins. It may have arisen from residents of the Lu settlement in the Spring and Autumn period and the Qi settlement in the Warring States period adopting place names as surnames, from offices such as Changren, Changbo, and Changshi, or from surname changes among ethnic minorities.

Reference: 常姓起源分布与家谱家族

Ji-Surname Branch

One Ji-surname branch of Chang is traditionally traced to descendants of Wei Kangshu, who became Chang through enfeoffment in Chang. Descendants of the kings of Wu were also enfeoffed in Changzhou during the Spring and Autumn period and later adopted Chang as their surname.

Reference: 常氏家谱网 提供11个省区市的28部常氏家谱、常氏族谱

Historical Records

Medieval Lineages and Figures

During the medieval period, Chang lineages were found in Taiyuan, Yuzhou Runan, Guangning Commandery, and Henei. Associated figures included Chang Hui, Chang Zhenqi, Chang Wei, Chang Lin, Chang Shuang, Chang Jing, and Chang Gun.

Reference: 常姓起源分布与家谱家族

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Genealogies and Hall Names

The genealogy catalog lists 28 Chang genealogies or clan genealogies across 11 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Hall names listed include Jingmao, Huaide, Chengyi, Shude, Beishun, Anren, Pingyuan, and Sansheng.

Reference: 常氏家谱网 提供11个省区市的28部常氏家谱、常氏族谱

Migration and Distribution

Contemporary Distribution

Among 23Mofang genetic-testing users, Chang users’ ancestral regions are mainly distributed in Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Beijing, Shanxi, and Jiangsu; Henan accounts for 13.5%, Hebei 12.4%, and Shandong 10.7%.

Reference: 常姓起源分布与家谱家族