Han Surname

Surname Overview

Current Distribution

The surname Han is pronounced hán and is currently rare. It is found in Changle, Shandong; Taiyuan, Changzhi, Linfen, and Jincheng in Shanxi; Huangchi, Anhui; and Gaoyao, Guangdong.

Reference: 寒姓_寒姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Ancient Origins

Accounts of the surname's ancient origins include Han Ai, a minister of the Yellow Emperor; descendants of Han Zhuo, a feudal lord in the Xia period; the state of Han of the Yun surname, whose name became the surname; and descendants of Han Hou, son of King Wu of Zhou, who adopted the surname while fleeing danger.

Reference: 寒姓_寒姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Xianbei Origin

One branch of the Han surname originated among the Xianbei, from Nüda Han, leader of the Qifu branch of the western Xianbei during the Han, Wei, and Jin periods. The surname was formed by sinicizing an ancestor's name and is pronounced hán.

Reference: 寒姓_寒姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Qiang Origin

One branch of the Han surname originated among the Qiang, from the Han dang group of the western Qiang during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. After submitting to the Tang dynasty, members of the group adopted Han as their Chinese surname from their tribal name.

Reference: 寒姓_寒姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

Ming-Era Migration

In the early Ming, Han ancestors from Pingyang Prefecture, Hongdong County, Zhaocheng County, and other places were gathered at the Hongdong pagoda tree by imperial order and moved to Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Beijing, Shaanxi, Gansu, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanxi, and other areas. By the late Qing, their descendants were distributed across these regions.

Reference: 寒(hán)姓-族谱网

Notable People

Commanderies and Figures

The Han surname's commanderies were Xunyang and Yingchuan. Historical figures include Han Lang of the Eastern Han and Han Xiang of the Ming, who served as an instructor in Xiping County, Henan.

Reference: 寒姓_寒姓的来源和历史_百家姓