He Surname

Surname Overview

Multiple Origins

The He surname is mainly found among Han, Manchu, Mongolian, and ancient Jewish communities. Its recorded origins include He Xu, Helian, Hezhang, and sinicized Manchu surnames.

Reference: 姓氏文化：赫姓

Origins

He Xu Origin

One of the earliest recorded origins of He comes from the ancient He Xu tribal group, taking the tribal name as the surname. Its descendants branched into the He, He Xu, and He Su surnames.

Reference: 姓氏文化：赫姓

Abbreviation of Helian

After members of the Helian royal clan of Hu Xia dispersed, some shortened Helian to the single-character Chinese surname He. During Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei's sinicization reforms, some Helian families likewise adopted He.

Reference: 姓氏文化：赫姓

Migration and Distribution

Heseri Distribution

By the late Ming, the Heseri surname was distributed among the three major Jurchen groups, with a particular concentration among the Haixi Jurchens, including the Yehe, Hada, Fuhifa, and Zaigu areas.

Reference: 姓氏文化：赫姓

Genealogy and Generation Names

Heseri Generation Names

A branch recorded in the Genealogical Book of the Heseri Clan uses the generation sequence: Haitushouheyong, Buqingjichangxin, Chengshianxianfu, Xingyuanyud恩, Wanniangongbaoshou, and Putaiyixunshen.

Reference: 姓氏文化：赫姓

Research Notes

Early Surname Boundary

He Xu was originally a designation for a community in a matrilineal clan society and belongs to legendary history; strictly speaking, it was not yet a surname in the scholarly sense of surname studies.

Reference: 姓氏文化：赫姓