Bǐ Surname

Surname Overview

A Rare Surname of Multiple Origins

The surname Bi, pronounced Bǐ, is an ancient surname with multiple ethnic and genealogical origins. It does not rank among the top 1,000 surnames in mainland China and ranks 1,038th in Taiwan.

Reference: 比姓_比姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Zi-Clan Lineage of Bi Gan

One branch derives from the Zi clan and adopted the name of the Shang figure Bi Gan as its surname. The Bi branch descended through Lin Jian honors Bi Gan and Lin Jian as founding ancestors of the surname.

Reference: 比姓_比姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Abbreviation of Guibi

One branch derives from the clan designation Guibi, also called Guibei, associated with a wife of Emperor Shun. Some descendants later shortened the compound surname to Bi.

Reference: 比姓_比姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Abbreviation of Libi

One branch derives from the Libi compound surname of the Ji-surnamed state of Ju. Some Libi descendants shortened it to the single surname Bi or Li.

Reference: 比姓_比姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Shortened Chu Compound Surnames

One branch is traced to descendants of Xiong Heng, King Qingxiang of Chu, of the Mi clan. Among descendants of the compound surnames Zhuobi and Bobi, some shortened their surnames to Bi, Zhuo, or Bo.

Reference: 比姓_比姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Hall Names

The Bi surname recognizes Xihe and Nan'an as ancestral commanderies and uses the hall names Xihe Hall and Nan'an Hall; Nan'an Hall was named for its commandery.

Reference: 比姓_比姓的来源和历史_百家姓