Surname Overview
Basic Information
The surname Shui is pronounced Shuǐ and is ranked 38th in the Hundred Surnames.
Shui Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 55,325Shui / Shui
Origins
Main Origins
Five origins are associated with the Shui surname: descendants of Yu the Great's water engineers from the Si surname; adoption of Water from the Five Elements; descendants of Gonggong; ancient people living beside waterways who took Water as their surname; and simplification of Shuiqiu to Shui.
Historical Records
Kuaiji Record
A record of the Si-surname branch states that Shui Sumin lived in Yin County, Zhejiang, during the Ming dynasty, and that his ancestors, descendants of Yu the Great, remained in Kuaiji and took Shui as their surname.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Hall Name
The Shui surname is associated with the Wu Xing and Lin'an prestigious lineages, and its principal hall name is Běnyuán Hall.
Migration and Distribution
The Shui surname is outside the top one hundred surnames in both mainland China and Taiwan. It remains more numerous around Kuaiji, with particular concentrations in Wuxing and Lin'an, Zhejiang.
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Surname attestation references
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