Surname Overview
Overview
Wei (Wēi) is a currently uncommon Han Chinese surname, found today in Beijing, Shenyang in Liaoning, Linfen in Shanxi, and Wuchang in Hubei.
Wēi Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 101Wēi / Wei
Origins
One line derives from the Zi lineage, descendants of Song Weizi and Weizhong, taking the fief-state name Wei as their surname; another derives from the ancient Wei state of the southwestern tribes during the Yin and Zhou periods, taking the state name as the surname.
Historical Records
The Zheng Tongzhi: Shizulüe records the Wei surname and notes, “Zi lineage, descendants of Song Weizhong.” Zheng Qiao classified it under surnames derived from personal names and stated that Weizi, Weizi Zhong, Weizhong, and Gongzi Kai were the same person.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Historical figures include Wei Biao, a Jin grandee, and Wei Hu, a Lu grandee, both of the Spring and Autumn period.
Research Notes
Variant Form
Wei also has the recorded variant form “”.
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Surname attestation references
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