歹 Surname

Surname Overview

A Rare Surname

Dai is a rare Chinese surname, with Chuxiong in Yunnan serving as a principal area of settlement.

Reference: 歹姓 _ 百科

Origins

Sinicized Mongol Origin

One Dai lineage is traced to the Mongol Bugunadai clan, descendants of Mongwu Shiwei Bugunatai; in the early Ming period, some descendants adopted Dai, described as a variant form of the character Li, as their surname.

Reference: 歹姓 _ 百科

Development from an Occupational Term

During the Song and Yuan periods, daizhe referred to skilled workers such as blacksmiths and sword makers and conveyed the sense of being strong, capable, and skilled; it later developed into the Dai surname.

Reference: 歹姓 _ 百科

Historical Records

Documentary Attestations

The surname is included in Xinbian Qianjiaxing. Xingshi Kaolüe records it as a surname of the Yi peoples in Yunnan and cites Chibei Outan for the presence of the surname in Shandong.

Reference: 歹姓_歹姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

Geographic Distribution

The Dai surname occurs across Yunnan, including Dayao, Yao'an, Kunming, Yuxi, Zhaotong, Honghe, Lincang, Simao, Xishuangbanna, Dali, Baoshan, Dehong, and Nujiang. Communities are also recorded outside Yunnan in Xinzheng, Henan, and Qin'an, Gansu.

Reference: 歹姓_歹姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Genealogy and Generation Names

Yunnan Generation Names

The generation sequence at Daijiashe in Qijie, Dayao, is Ying, Shi, Wei, Zhao, Ji, Chun, Bi, Lian, Shan, Yi, Ren, Tong, followed by Chang, Fa, Qi, Xiang. The Shijiazhuang branch in Shedian, Dayao, and the Wuhai village branch in Yao'an preserve different sequences.

Reference: 歹姓 _ 百科