Surname Overview
Overview
The Er surname is currently uncommon and is found in Changzhi, Shanxi; Lengshuijiang, Hunan; and Lushui, Yunnan.
ěr Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 1ěr
Origins
Main Origins
The Er surname has two main origins: one from the Li surname, among the descendants of Li Er; and one from the Wei surname, among the descendants of Wei Ru'er.
Historical Records
Early Attestation
The earliest record of the Er surname is found in the Southern Song work Xingyuan.
Migration and Distribution
Migration And Distribution
Among the early-Ming migrants from the Hongdong locust tree, Er surname ancestors came from Pingyang Prefecture, Hongdong County, and Zhaocheng County; by the late Qing, their descendants were distributed across Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Beijing, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shanxi.
Notable People
Historical Figures
During the Hongxi era of the Ming dynasty, Er Yuanming served as an administrative official of Fuzhou Guard; during the Zhengde era, Er Huan served as magistrate of Liling County. In the Qing dynasty, Er Kongmu served as an official of Taiwan Prefecture in the twentieth year of the Qianlong era.
Research Notes
Question Concerning The Li Er Origin
The claim that Li Er was the ancestor of the Er surname requires further examination; the account states that there is no detailed record of the formation of the Er surname during the Han dynasty.
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Surname attestation references
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