Surname Overview
Standard Pronunciation
As a surname, 苟 is pronounced gǒu in Modern Standard Chinese, not jù; it should also be distinguished from 荀, 句, 勾, and 沟.
Gou Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 389,836Gou / Gou
Origins
Multiple Origins
The 苟 surname has multiple origins, including descendants of ancient emperors, ancient state names, a fief of a Chu official in the Spring and Autumn period, an altered surname of the 荀 lineage, the plant name 苟草, the sinicization of the Di clan 北若干氏, and changes from 句 and 敬 to avoid taboos.
Historical Records
An Ancient Surname
The 苟 surname is described as one of the ancient surnames.
Migration and Distribution
Population and Distribution
In 2006, the domestic 苟 surname population was approximately 430,000, ranking 225th. More than 70% were distributed across Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Hubei, with the largest concentration in Sichuan, accounting for slightly more than one quarter of the national total.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Historical figures include the Tang dynasty general Gou Renjie and the Ming dynasty scholar Gou Tiancheng.
Research Notes
Scope of the 敬 Origin
The account that some 苟 surnames arose from 敬 through avoidance of a taboo applies only to part of the 苟 surname population; not all 苟 surnames originated from 敬.
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Surname attestation references
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