Surname Overview
Character and Pronunciation
The surname Hou is a single-character surname, pronounced “hòu,” and is formed from the “亻” radical and “厶.”
Hou Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 631,747Hou / Hou
Origins
Lu State Origin Tradition
The origin of the Hou surname is traced to the Lu state during the Spring and Autumn period, where it is described as an aristocratic surname.
Reference: 我姓候潇洒快乐到尽头：笑谈候姓与侯姓的区别_姓氏_鲁国_身份证
Descendants of Duke Zhuang of Lu
One account holds that the surname was established by descendants of Duke Zhuang, the thirteenth ruler of Lu, who adopted his name as their surname.
Migration and Distribution
Modern Distribution
The surname later spread to other regions and is now distributed throughout China, with many descendants.
Research Notes
Distinction from Hou and Formation Accounts
The characters 候 and 侯 are distinct; two possible explanations for the formation of the 候 form are a branch of the 侯 surname and an error in registering names.
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