Chi Surname

Surname Overview

Chi (chí) is a relatively common surname today. It is widely distributed and accounts for about 0.03% of China's Han population.

Reference: 池姓_池姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Main Origins

One branch of the Chi surname originated with Prince Chi of the Qin royal house of the Ying clan, whose descendants adopted his name as their surname. Another branch took the surname from its place of residence, referring to people who lived beside a moat.

Reference: 池姓_池姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Historical Records

Textual Attestations

The Fengsu Tong lists cheng, guo, yuan, and chi among surnames derived from places of residence; the Tongzhi: Shizu Lue records that the Chi surname came from people who lived by a city moat.

Reference: 池姓起源 - 姓氏根脉·家族渊源 - 姓氏大全

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Hall Names

The Chi surname is associated with the commanderies of Xihe, Chenliu, and Xiping, and has the hall names Xihe Hall, Chenliu Hall, and Xiping Hall; Tong'an Hall is also recorded.

Reference: 池氏家谱网 提供7个省区市的9部池氏家谱、池氏族谱

Migration and Distribution

Contemporary Distribution

Among contemporary Chi-surname users, ancestral regions are concentrated mainly in Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Fujian, accounting for 16.0%, 14.1%, and 10.4%, respectively.

Reference: 池姓起源分布与家谱家族

Notable People

Historical Figures

Recorded historical figures with the Chi surname include Chi Yuanjian of the Song dynasty, Chi Yude of the Ming dynasty, and Chi Shengchun of the Qing dynasty. Chi Shengchun passed the metropolitan examination in the third year of the Daoguang reign and rose to Director of the Imperial Academy.

Reference: 池姓起源分布与家谱家族