Origins
Surname Origins
The Zhou dynasty had the state of Dan; during the Spring and Autumn period, Lu had Danfu settlement, and the Qin dynasty established Danfu County. The Dan surname may have originated from a settlement or place name; some Dan families also originated from surname changes among ethnic minorities.
Reference: 单姓起源分布与家谱家族
Ethnic Origins
During the Wei-Jin period, the Di people in the northwest included the Dan surname and formed a prominent lineage in Shangjun. After surname changes under Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, the Kedan, Adan, and Kedan groups adopted Dan. The Jurchen Tutan, and the Manchu Dushan and Aola groups also adopted Dan; later, some Daur and Mongolian surnames did likewise.
Reference: 单姓起源分布与家谱家族
Historical Records
Early Recorded Figures
During the Han dynasties, people bearing the Dan surname were active in the Shandong and Henan area, including Dan Chao, Dan Kuang, and Dan Yang. Dan Xiongxin lived in the late Sui and early Tang period.
Reference: 单姓起源分布与家谱家族
Migration and Distribution
Geographic Distribution
Among contemporary Dan-surname users, ancestral origins are concentrated mainly in Jiangsu, Shandong, and Zhejiang, followed by Liaoning, Anhui, Beijing, and Hebei.
Reference: 单姓起源分布与家谱家族
Notable People
Historical Figures and Prominent Lineages
In the Song dynasty, Dan Shi of Yixing rose to Right Admonisher. During the Ming and Qing periods, the Gao mi Dan lineage was a prominent examination family, producing figures such as Dan Zuozhe, Dan Weicong, Dan Weilian, Dan Weilan, Dan Kai, Dan Zongyuan, and Dan Lang.
Reference: 单姓起源分布与家谱家族
Genealogy and Generation Names
Lineage Distribution Records
The Dan surname family database records 47 families across 16 provinces; Zhejiang has 12 Dan families, Shandong has 8, and Hunan has 5.
Reference: 单姓起源分布与家谱家族
