亚 Surname

Surname Overview

A Rare Surname

The surname Ya is pronounced yà. It is a relatively rare surname found among Han, Zhuang, Xian, and other ethnic groups.

Reference: 亚姓_亚姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Descent from the Duke of Zhou's Clan

The Xing Shi Kao Lue, quoting the Lu Shi, describes the Ya clan as descendants of the Duke of Zhou's clan and associates it with the Ji surname; another formulation calls them descendants of collateral Zhou branches.

Reference: 亚姓_亚姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Descent from Ya Yu

Another origin tradition traces the surname to Ya Yu of the Zhou period; the form Ya Wei is identified as an erroneous rendering of Ya Yu.

Reference: 亚姓_亚姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Other Origin Traditions

Other traditions describe three origins: members of the You clan removed the water radical from 游 while fleeing danger and adopted Ya; descendants of Western Zhou officials titled Yalü used the office as a surname; and some members of the Manchu Yakesa and Mongol A'erya clans adopted Ya.

Reference: 亚姓的追根溯源 姓亚的历史人物 - 姓氏起源百家姓起源 人物专题 爱择日古今中外名人录 -

Migration and Distribution

Geographic Distribution

The Ya surname is found in Gaoyao and Wuchuan in Guangdong; Luxi, Luliang, and Mile in Yunnan; Laohekou in Hubei; Jing County and Weichang in Hebei; Qingyuan in Liaoning; Taiyuan and Linfen in Shanxi; Hancheng in Shaanxi; and Nanyang in Henan.

Reference: 亚姓--姓氏大百科

Notable People

Historical Figures

Recorded historical bearers include Ya Jialu of the Song dynasty, Ya Sibi of the Yuan dynasty, and Ya Ji of Huayin in the Ming dynasty. Ya Ji served as deputy magistrate of Pingyin during the Jiajing era.

Reference: 亚姓_亚姓的来源和历史_百家姓