Surname Overview
Historical Development
The Yelü surname reached its height during the Liao, Jin, and Song periods.
Yēlǜ Surname
Surname profileYēlǜ / Yeh-lü
Origins
Khitan Dynastic Surname
Yelü originated among the Khitan, a branch of the Xianbei descended from the Donghu; after the Khitans founded the Liao in 916, Yelü became the dynastic surname.
Historical Records
Record in the History of Liao
The preface to the Biographies of Empresses and Consorts in the History of Liao records that, admiring Emperor Gaozu of Han, Emperor Taizu of Liao also used Liu as a Han surname alongside Yelü.
Migration and Distribution
Surname Changes After the Yuan
After the collapse of the Yuan regime, members of the Yelü lineage changed to other Han surnames to avoid turmoil.
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