Er Surname

Surname Overview

Er is a Chinese surname with a current population of about 5,000, making it a rare surname.

Reference: 尔姓起源与历史 - 最酷在线工具

Origins

Main Origins

The origins of Er include the Western Zhou official title Zuǒ'ěr, the Spring and Autumn Chen aristocrat Zhong'er Jinfu, and sinicized surname changes among the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Tangut, Hui, and Manchu groups.

Reference: 尔姓起源与历史 - 最酷在线工具

A Chen Aristocratic Branch

Among the collateral descendants of Zhong'er Jinfu, some adopted their ancestor's name as a surname; Er is described as the oldest traceable Er lineage and as sharing ancestry with the Yuan surname.

Reference: 尔姓氏来历，名人分布-族谱网

Historical Records

Documentary Record

The Tang Book's Genealogical Table of Chancellors records the lineage from Chen Hu Gong Man to Zhong'er Jinfu and states that a later descendant adopted the grandfather's courtesy name as a surname.

Reference: 尔姓氏来历，名人分布-族谱网

Migration and Distribution

Distribution

People with the Er surname are distributed in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shaanxi, Xinjiang, and Qinghai, among the Han, Hui, and Tibetan groups.

Reference: 尔姓起源与历史 - 最酷在线工具

Notable People

Historical Figure

Erzhu Rong (493–530), courtesy name Tianbao, was of the Qihu group and served as a powerful minister and military figure of the Northern Wei dynasty.

Reference: 尔姓起源与历史 - 最酷在线工具