Surname Overview
Gen is a currently rare Han Chinese surname.
Gèn Surname
Surname profileGèn / Ken
Origins
One account traces the Gen surname to the Jiang lineage, as descendants of Duke Huan of Qi in the Spring and Autumn period.
Migration and Distribution
Present Distribution
Today, the Gen surname is distributed in places including Beijing, Yuncheng in Shanxi, and Yongxiu in Jiangxi.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Recorded figures include Gen Kuan, a Lujiang commandery assistant governor in the Han dynasty, and Gen Shiqian, who appears in the Chengdu Zhougong Hall of Rites and Worthies illustration.
Research Notes
Limits of Readings and Origins
The surname is recorded with more than one pronunciation, and both a Qi Huan lineage account and a Song-era taboo-related surname-change account exist; they cannot be merged into a single origin.
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Surname attestation references
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