二 Surname

Surname Overview

Overview

The Er surname and the 贰 surname share the same origin and coexist; pronounced “èr,” it is a rare surname with an ancient lineage, few bearers, and a history spanning more than three thousand years.

Reference: 您知道有人姓“二”吗？聊聊二（贰）姓的起源与现状_姓氏_族人_传承

Origins

Origin in the State of Er

The main origin of the Er surname can be traced to the State of Er in the Western Zhou period, making it a surname derived from a state name. The state was a Ji-surname fief of the Zhou dynasty, located around present-day Yingshan, Guangshui, Hubei; after its fall, royal descendants and inhabitants adopted “Er” as their surname.

Reference: 您知道有人姓“二”吗？聊聊二（贰）姓的起源与现状_姓氏_族人_传承

Additional Origins

The Er surname also has connections with the ancient office of “Erfu” and with descendants of Mohefu, an Er king of the Xianbei Shiwei branch; during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the latter adopted Er as a surname through sinicization of the title.

Reference: 您知道有人姓“二”吗？聊聊二（贰）姓的起源与现状_姓氏_族人_传承

Historical Records

Historical Figure

During the Northern Wei period, Er Chen served as governor of Pingyang and was respected by local people for his incorruptible administration.

Reference: 您知道有人姓“二”吗？聊聊二（贰）姓的起源与现状_姓氏_族人_传承

Migration and Distribution

During the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing periods, bearers of the Er surname spread from their place of origin in Hubei to Anhui, Yunnan, Shanxi, and other areas, with some moving to southern provinces. In modern times, Anhui is the main settlement area, while small numbers are also found in Beijing, Yunnan, Shanxi, and Taiwan.

Reference: 您知道有人姓“二”吗？聊聊二（贰）姓的起源与现状_姓氏_族人_传承

Genealogy and Generation Names

Written Form and Continuity

Historically, “贰” and “二” were interchangeable forms. In later periods, some descendants simplified “贰” to “二,” producing the coexistence of the Er and 贰 surnames; today, descendants preserve the surname tradition through genealogy revisions and clan gatherings.

Reference: 您知道有人姓“二”吗？聊聊二（贰）姓的起源与现状_姓氏_族人_传承