Guan Surname

Surname Overview

Guan (traditional form: 貫; pronounced guàn) is a relatively rare Han Chinese surname found in places including Taiyuan and Yangquan in Shanxi and Hancheng in Shaanxi.

Reference: 贯姓_贯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Ancient Origins

One lineage traces to the Shang-era state of Guan, whose descendants adopted the state name as their surname. Another traces to the Ji-surnamed state of Yuan, with descendants of Yuan Boguan adopting an ancestor's personal name as their surname.

Reference: 贯姓_贯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Yuan-Dynasty Lineage

In the Yuan dynasty, Sueryuesuhaya adopted Guan as his surname after his father's name, Gejige, was phonetically rendered as “Guanzhige.”

Reference: 贯姓_贯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Historical Records

Historical Attestations

The Guan surname is included in the clan sections of Zheng Tongzhi and Xu Tongzhi. The Zuo Zhuan records that a bronze vessel of the state of Guan was granted to the Marquis of Lu in the early Zhou period.

Reference: 贯姓_贯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commandery Associations

The Guan surname's commandery associations are Shanggu and Xihe.

Reference: 贯姓_贯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

Settlement and Distribution

Guancun in Nanqiao Town, Cangshan County, southern Shandong, is named after the surname and has about 2,000 residents, approximately 85% of whom bear the surname Guan. The surname is also distributed across Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Sichuan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Anhui, Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang.

Reference: 贯姓_贯姓的来源和历史_百家姓