Dú Surname

Surname Overview

A Rare Surname

Du is a Chinese surname whose present-day population is extremely small and has no ranking.

Reference: 毒姓 _ 百科

Origins

The Dou Huaizhen Account

Xu Tongzhi classifies Du among surnames derived from an infamous deed and records that Tang chancellor Dou Huaizhen drowned after his failed rebellion with Princess Taiping, was posthumously punished, and had his surname changed to Du.

Reference: 原创姓氏趣闻：史上最毒的姓，还是皇帝亲赐，听着恐怖没人愿意姓_台湾_窦怀正_家族

The Wu Zetian Account

Another account holds that Wu Zetian, resenting a woman of the Dou clan who had competed with her for the position of empress, bestowed the surname Du on her.

Reference: 尸、丧、屎、鬼、毒，历史上怎么会有这么“惊悚”的姓氏_鬼方氏

Historical Records

Textual Attestations

The surname appears in the clan sections of both Zheng Tongzhi and Xu Tongzhi. Zheng Qiao annotated its pronunciation as “xiagui fan” and cited Zuanyao identifying it as a human surname.

Reference: 毒姓起源与历史 - 最酷在线工具

Migration and Distribution

Modern Distribution

The Du surname is found in Wujin, Jiangsu, and in Nantou, Tainan, Chiayi, Taichung, and Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

Reference: 毒姓起源与历史 - 最酷在线工具

Genealogy and Generation Names

The Du Family in Chiayi

A Du family lives in Guogou Village, Taibao City, Chiayi County, Taiwan. Its ancestor was a Qing-dynasty translator, and after several generations with only one male heir per generation, the family has grown to six male descendants.

Reference: 毒姓 _ 百科