Surname Overview
Pronunciation and Ethnicity
岩 is pronounced ái in the second tone and occurs mainly in the names of Dai men.
Ai Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 124,800Ai / Ai
Origins
Birth-Order Meaning
In the Dai context, 岩 was originally not a surname but a designation for the eldest son among brothers.
Name Formation
Before having children, a Dai man's name may consist of “birth order + given name.” An eldest son is called “岩 + given name,” and some later treated 岩 as a surname following Han Chinese naming conventions.
Migration and Distribution
Distribution in Menglian
The Dai use of 岩 pronounced ái is found in Menglian, Yunnan, and nearby areas.
Use in Xishuangbanna
Among Dai men in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 岩 pronounced ai is commonly encountered.
Research Notes
Limits of Surname Classification
In this usage, 岩 functions both as an eldest-son designation and as an element interpreted as a surname, so it cannot uniformly be treated as a traditional hereditary surname.
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