Surname Overview
A Rare Han Chinese Surname
Ou, pronounced ǒu, is a relatively rare Han Chinese surname in current use.
Ou Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 1Ou / Ou
Origins
Two Accounts of Origin
Two origins are recorded for the Ou surname: one traces it to the Ren surname and the descendants of Fan Yu, father of Xi Zhong, with 禺, 遇, and 偶 treated as interchangeable ancient forms; the other derives it from the Geng surname 耦, changed because 耦 and 偶 are homophones.
Historical Records
Documentary Attestations
The earliest record of the Ou surname is identified in the Ming-dynasty Wanxing Tongpu. It was also included in the Xu Tongzhi Shizulue and Xingshi Kaolue, while Zhang Shu wrote that it was absent from surname genealogies and that its origin was unclear.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Qiantang Commandery
The ancestral commandery associated with the Ou surname is Qiantang.
Migration and Distribution
Geographic Distribution
The Ou surname is found in Shangyu, Yuyao, and Xiaoshan in Zhejiang; Jiading in Shanghai; Huainan in Anhui; Taipei and Hualien in Taiwan; Nantong in Jiangsu; and Baotou in Inner Mongolia. It is also found in Yuncheng and Hequ in Shanxi and Jingde in Anhui.
Notable People
Ou Huan of the Ming Dynasty
Ou Huan lived during the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty and wrote works including Jiangyu Ji, Zuiyin Lu, and Fengtai Yinxiao Ji.
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Surname attestation references
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