Gǒu Surname

Surname Overview

A Rare Surname

Pronounced Gǒu, 芶 is a relatively rare modern surname found among Han and Bouyei people; it is geographically widespread but has few bearers.

Reference: 芶姓_芶姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Historical Records

Song-Era Taboo Accounts

The Xu Tongzhi Shizu Lüe and Yang Shen's Xixing Lu record that the surname 勾 was graphically altered during the Song dynasty to avoid Emperor Gaozong's personal name, including by adding the grass radical to form 芶.

Reference: 芶姓_芶姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Hall Names

Commandery-based hall names include Xihe, Shanxi, Henan, Henei, Jianning (Yizhou), Huayang, Pingyang, and Bohai; independent hall names include Zhuhua, Yuqing, Side, and Jingzong.

Reference: 芶姓_芶姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

Ming–Qing Migration

In the early Ming, Gou families from Shanxi were relocated through the Hongdong migration to Henan, Hebei, Shaanxi, Shandong, Gansu, Beijing, Tianjin, and other areas. From the late Ming, Gou families from Hunan and Hubei moved into Sichuan and Chongqing, while during the Qing some from Shandong migrated to Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Jilin.

Reference: 芶姓_芶姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Present-Day Concentration

Today, the Gou surname is concentrated mainly in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Hubei, followed by Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shandong, and other areas, with a core distribution zone spanning Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu.

Reference: 芶姓_芶姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Notable People

Gou Xi of Western Jin

Gou Xi, a native of Shanyang in Henei during the Western Jin, served as Administrator of Yangping, General-in-Chief, Grand Commander, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Dongping Commandery.

Reference: 芶姓_芶姓的来源和历史_百家姓