Surname Overview
Qian, written 前, is a relatively rare surname currently used among Han Chinese.
Qian Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 13Qian / Qian
Historical Records
Documentary Attestations
The surname Qian first appears in Xing Yuan and is also included in Xu Tongzhi: Shizu Lüe.
Migration and Distribution
Geographic Distribution
The surname occurs in Datong, Jincheng, and Linfen in Shanxi; Wuchang in Hubei; Shaowu in Fujian; Tongjiang in Sichuan; and also Wujin, Guangfeng, Huainan, Zhuji, Xiaoshan, Taipei, Uxin Banner, and Beijing.
Notable People
Qian La
The Flying Dragon General Qian La is identified as a person of Jin during the Five Dynasties; another account writes his name as 前刺 and describes him simply as a person of Jin, leaving differences in the written name and period designation.
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.