Ji Surname

Surname Overview

Population and Distribution

Today, the Ji surname has a population of more than 960,000, concentrated mainly in Jiangsu and Zhejiang; Jiangsu accounts for about 44% of the total Ji population.

Reference: 季氏家谱网 提供7个省区市的65部季氏家谱、季氏族谱

Origins

Main Origins

The Ji surname mainly derives from the Ji, Jiang, and Mi surnames. The descendants of the Lu state’s Jisun clan are regarded as its principal line; the compound surname was later abbreviated to the single surname Ji.

Reference: 季姓起源分布与家谱家族

Historical Records

Early Records

Texts also associate the surname with the sibling order “Bo, Zhong, Shu, Ji.” Wu state prince Zha was called Jizha because he was fourth in birth order, and his descendants later adopted the order as their surname.

Reference: 源于孔孟之乡的姓氏（20）——季姓

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Hall Names

The Ji surname’s commandery seats include Bohai, Lu (also called Lu Commandery), and Shouchun County. Its hall names include “Three Dynasties,” “Quiet Reflection,” and “Pure Filial Piety.”

Reference: 源于孔孟之乡的姓氏（20）——季姓

Migration and Distribution

Before the Qin dynasty, Ji surname activity was centered in Shandong, after which its main population moved south. During the Song, Yuan, and Ming periods, the population moved mainly from the Central Plains toward the southeast, forming a distribution region centered on Zhejiang.

Reference: 季姓起源分布与家谱家族

Genealogy and Generation Names

Genealogy and Evidentiary Limits

Existing records state that the genealogical lines of the three Ji branches have become confused and cannot be fully examined one by one. Surviving genealogies record migration ancestors and lineages in places including Chongming, Jiangyin, and Rugao.

Reference: 季姓起源分布与家谱家族