Surname Overview
Rare surname
Gou is a currently rare surname found among the Han and Lisu peoples, with recorded distribution in Jia County and Zhoukou in Henan, Changzhi in Shanxi, and Lushui in Yunnan.
Gǒu Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 91Gǒu / Kou
Origins
Origin record
The origin of the Han Chinese Gou surname is unknown.
Historical Records
Early attestation
Gou Weiyang appears in Yin Sou, where the record treats him as the beginning of the Gou surname.
Migration and Distribution
Recorded distribution
The Gou surname is recorded only in Jia County and Zhoukou in Henan, Changzhi in Shanxi, and Lushui in Yunnan.
Notable People
Historical figures
The records mention Gou Weiyang in the Han dynasty and Gou Jian in the Western Jin dynasty.
Research Notes
Documentary limits
Gou Weiyang is not recorded in the Shiji or Hanshu. The relevant account appears in the Ming-dynasty Zhengzi Tong, and one view holds that “Gou Weiyang” may have been a title for a minor dog inspector at Weiyang Palace rather than a personal name.
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Surname attestation references
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