凯 Surname

Surname Overview

The Kai surname is currently uncommon. It is found among the Han and Yugur peoples, with distributions including Xinhui in Guangdong, Datong and Yuci in Shanxi, and Tacheng in Xinjiang.

Reference: 凯姓_凯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

The Ji-Origin Line

One line originated from the Ji surname and descended from Zhuanxu, the Gaoyang clan. It took the surname from an ancestral title; in ancient usage, Kai and Kai with the heart radical were interchangeable.

Reference: 凯姓_凯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

The Miao-Origin Line

Another line originated among descendants of the ancient San Miao and adopted the Han surname after interaction and integration with the Han people, taking it from residence in the Kaili area of Guizhou.

Reference: 凯姓_凯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Historical Records

Texts and Historical Figure

The Kai surname is included in the New Compilation of One Thousand Surnames, and the Surname Dictionary records it through the New History of the Yuan; Kailin is listed as a Yuan-period figure.

Reference: 凯姓_凯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Hall Names

The recorded commanderies are Gongzhou and Huizhou. The hall names are Gongzhou Hall and Huizhou Hall; Gongzhou Hall is also called Bาจ郡 Hall, Chuzhou Hall, Yuzhou Hall, or Chongqing Hall.

Reference: 凯姓_凯姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

During the early Qing migration from Huguang to Sichuan, one Kai group from Kaili in Guizhou was moved to Chongqing Prefecture in Sichuan. Later, some members were conscripted to Anhui, after which the group spread to different areas, mainly Guizhou, Chongqing, and Anhui.

Reference: 凯姓|百家姓 - 查字典