Surname Overview
A Rare Surname
The surname 美 is pronounced měi and is relatively rare today.
měi Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 10,372měi
Origins
Ethnic-Origin Account
The surname is recorded as a transliteration originating among ethnic minorities and is found among Koreans and Mongols.
Historical Records
Surname-Book Attestations
The surname 美 is included in Xinbian Qianjiaxing and Zhonghua Xingfu.
Migration and Distribution
Geographic Distribution
The surname is found in Shangyi, Jing County, Huolu, and Laoting in Hebei; Yutai and Pingdu in Shandong; Taiyuan in Shanxi; Pucheng in Fujian; Wuchuan in Guangdong; and Lushui in Yunnan. Its distribution is broad, but its population is small.
Research Notes
Uncertain Lineage
The specific origin of the surname is uncertain; it is also found among Han and Xibe people.
Composition of Tested Users
Among 23Mofang genetic-testing users surnamed 美, 33.3% reported ancestry from Guangdong, while Jiangsu, Jilin, Xinjiang, and Sichuan each accounted for 16.7%. Ethnically, 66.7% were Han, 16.7% Korean, and 16.7% Uyghur. These figures apply only to its tested users.
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Surname attestation references
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