Dian Surname

Surname Overview

A Rare Surname

Dian, pronounced diǎn, is a relatively rare surname currently used among Han Chinese; it is included in the surname treatises of Zheng Tongzhi and Xu Tongzhi.

Reference: 典姓_典姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Descendants of the Shaodian Clan

One branch is traced to descendants of the Shaodian clan, who adopted an ancestral state name as Shaodian and later shortened it to the single-character surname Dian. A ten-generation sequence is also listed: Di, Xuan, Huang, Yu, Zhou, Hong, Huang, Ri, Yue, and Ying.

Reference: 典姓_典姓的来源_典姓族谱_姓氏典姓的名人_典氏家谱_百家姓

Origins in Official Titles

Other Dian lineages originated from official titles. Descendants of holders of Western Zhou offices such as Diansi and Dianshu shortened compound surnames to Dian.

Reference: 典姓_典姓的来源_典姓族谱_姓氏典姓的名人_典氏家谱_百家姓

Hui and Jurchen Branches

One Hui branch of the Dian surname arose through shortening the compound surname Saidian. In the early Ming, members of the Jurchen Adian tribe adopted Dian as a Chinese phonetic rendering of their tribal name, and some continued to use it after submitting to the Later Jin in the late Ming.

Reference: 典姓_典姓的来源_典姓族谱_姓氏典姓的名人_典氏家谱_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

Distribution and Commandery

The Dian surname is found in Linfen in Shanxi, Zhouqu in Gansu, Gong County and Ye County in Henan, Fushun in Sichuan, Huainan in Anhui, and Taipei in Taiwan. Its commandery association is Chenliu.

Reference: 典姓_典姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Notable People

Historical Figures

Dian Wei was a Cao Wei general during the Three Kingdoms period who rose to colonel and died in Jian'an 2. His son Dian Man successively served as court gentleman, major, and commandant and was enfeoffed as Marquis Within the Passes. Dian Ying, a native of Wanping in the Ming dynasty, served as magistrate of Lingchuan County during the Hongwu reign.

Reference: 典姓_典姓的来源和历史_百家姓