Gai Surname

Surname Overview

Surname Pronunciations

The surname Gai is recorded with the pronunciations Gě and Gài.

Reference: 盖姓大全 - 族谱宝

Origins

Three Origins

The surname has three recorded origins: a branch from the Jiang surname taking the name of a fief; a Gai surname among the Lushui Hu people; and the compound surname Gailou being changed to the single surname Gai.

Reference: 盖姓大全 - 族谱宝

Historical Records

Documentary Records

The Wei Shu records the Gai surname among the Lushui Hu people and records Gailou changing to the single surname Gai; the Han Shu records two people with the Gai surname.

Reference: 盖姓大全 - 族谱宝

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Hall Names

Recorded commanderies and associated seats include Yuyang, Anyang, Luoyang, and Runan; recorded hall names include Duoshi Hall and Chongxian Hall.

Reference: 盖姓大全 - 族谱宝

Migration and Distribution

The Fanyang Lineage Seat

During the Qin dynasty, Lu Ao settled in Zhuo Commandery, where his descendants remained and became known as the Zhuo Commandery Gai lineage. During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuo Commandery was renamed Fanyang Commandery; the lineage was also called the Fanyang Lu lineage, and Fanyang later became the largest commandery seat of the Gai surname.

Reference: 盖姓大全 - 族谱宝

Notable People

Historical Figures

Gai Yan was a Han Eastern Tiger-Fang General; Gai Kuanrao was a Western Han official from Yuyang; the Tang scholars Gai Wenda and Gai Wenyi were known together as the “Two Gais”; and Gai Jiaotian was a modern Peking Opera performing artist.

Reference: 盖姓大全 - 族谱宝

Ancestral Founder

The Gai surname honors Wang Huan as its ancestral founder.

Reference: 盖姓大全 - 族谱宝