hé Surname

Surname Overview

A Rare Han Chinese Surname

He is a rare surname currently found among Han Chinese.

Reference: 荷姓_荷姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Derivation from Heqiu

One account traces the surname to Heqiu, a fief granted to a son of King Qingxiang of Chu of the Mi lineage. His descendants adopted Heqiu as their surname, which was later shortened to single-character surnames including He.

Reference: 荷姓_荷姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Derivation from Hezi

Another account holds that the surname He developed from the compound surnames Heqiu or Hezi.

Reference: 荷姓_荷姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Branch from the Han Surname

One account says that while Han Gong was living in refuge in Lujiang, he answered Qin officials by pointing to a river as his surname, then removed the water radical to form He; the lineage later divided into the Han, He, and He surnames.

Reference: 荷姓_荷姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Historical Records

Recorded in Surname References

The surname is included in the Dictionary of Surnames through the Compilation of Chinese Surnames. The Encyclopedia of Chinese Surnames records it as derived from Heqiu, and Zhonghua Xingfu also records it.

Reference: 荷姓_荷姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

Modern Distribution

The surname is found in Songjiang in Shanghai; Shangyi and Weichang in Hebei; Pingyi and Dongping in Shandong; Taiyuan and Linfen in Shanxi; Pucheng in Fujian; and also Changhua, Chiayi, and Kaohsiung in Taiwan, Beijing, Jiangyin in Jiangsu, and Xingning in Guangdong.

Reference: 荷姓_荷姓的来源和历史_百家姓