Surname Overview
Meaning
The original meaning of 凌 is “stored ice,” referring to preserving ice in winter for use in summer.
Ling Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 921,671Ling / Ling
Origins
Two Origins
The Ling surname has two origins: the Ji surname and a place-name associated with water. One derives from the Zhou office of Lingren, and the other from the water name of Ling County in Sishui Commandery.
Historical Records
Classical Records
The Yuanhe Xingzuan records that a son of a collateral line of Wei Kangshu served as a Zhou Lingren and that his descendants adopted the office as their surname; the Zhouli records that the Lingren was in charge of ice.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Halls
The Ling surname is associated with Hejian and Bohai commanderies, and its main ancestral hall name is Yunlong Hall.
Migration and Distribution
Historical Distribution
During the Song period, the Ling surname was mainly distributed in Jiangsu, Anhui, Hunan, Zhejiang, Henan, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Jiangxi. During the Ming period, its population moved mainly toward the southeast, forming a southeastern distribution zone centered on Jiangsu.
Genealogy and Generation Names
Genealogy Generation Names
The Wujin Jiangsu Ling genealogy records the generation-name sequence from the tenth generation: “Dun Xiaoti, Shang Shishu, Yi Qin jian, Xue Zhongliang, Yong Changsheng, Bao Ankang, Ji Qingyuan, Xi Zuochang.”
Continue your family research
Start with ancestral counties, villages, personal names and dates. Record genealogy titles, volumes, editions and catalog identifiers. A shared surname does not prove a shared lineage; compare branch records.
Surname attestation references
These catalogs or datasets attest written names, not every origin or lineage claim on this page.
This page includes automatically organized material. Check the references and original family documents.
Add or correct information
Submit the information and a reference link for possible inclusion on this page.