Surname Overview
Pronunciation and Distribution
The surname Sha is pronounced shā and is a relatively common surname with a broad distribution.
Sha Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 402,618Sha / Sha
Origins
Three Ancient Origins
The surname has three recorded ancient origins: the ancient state of Sha, descendants of Weizi Qi of the Zi lineage who lived in Sha territory, and descendants of the Susha lineage of the Jiang surname.
Historical Records
Classical Records and Historical Figures
The Clan Records sections of the Zheng Tongzhi and Xu Tongzhi both record the surname Sha. The Xingzuan states, “There are Sha families in Dongguan,” and lists Sha figures from the Five Dynasties through the Qing dynasty.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Hall Names
The surname's commanderies are Runan and Dongguan; its hall names include Runan Hall, Dongguan Hall, and Jimin Hall.
Migration and Distribution
Historical and Contemporary Distribution
In the Ming dynasty, the Sha surname had about 28,000 people, with Guangdong as its largest area of distribution. In contemporary sample data, ancestral origins are concentrated mainly in Jiangsu, Shandong, and Xinjiang.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Sha Shijian was a Northern Song military commander who served as Governor of Dongguan. Sha Shenzhi was a Qing-dynasty calligrapher known for cursive script. Sha Yuanbing was active in the late Qing and Republican periods, served as a Hanlin compiler, and founded the Rugao Normal School.
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