Origins
Yigu's Fief
One branch traces to Yigu, a son of the Yellow Emperor. Yigu was enfeoffed at Cuiting in Youbeiping, and his descendants adopted the fief name Cai as their surname.
Reference: 采姓_采姓的来源和历史_百家姓
The Cai Fief of the State of Dai
One branch descends from Duke Dai, ruler of the State of Dai during the Spring and Autumn period. After Dai fell, some descendants adopted the name of Duke Dai's former fief, Cai, in present-day Lankao, Henan, as their surname.
Reference: 采姓_采姓的来源_采姓族谱_姓氏采姓的名人_采氏家谱_百家姓
Xianbei Surname Change
One branch came from the Xianbei Tuoba clan during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. During Northern Wei sinicization reforms, the Yushi clan of Tuoba Hong's second younger half-brother adopted the single-character surname Cai and later became a Han Chinese Cai branch.
Reference: 采姓_采姓的来源_采姓族谱_姓氏采姓的名人_采氏家谱_百家姓
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Hall Names
The ancestral commanderies are Youbeiping, Jiyang, and Songcheng. Hall names include Jiyang Hall, Beiping Hall, also called Zhiping Hall, and Songcheng Hall.
Reference: 采姓_采姓的来源和历史_百家姓
Migration and Distribution
Present-Day Distribution
The Cai surname has relatively few bearers. It is found in Liuhe, Nanjing and Lianshui, Huai'an in Jiangsu; Dianjiang in Chongqing; Anxin and Yutian in Hebei; Yantai in Shandong; Jingtai in Gansu; and parts of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, and Sichuan.
Reference: 采姓_采姓的来源和历史_百家姓
Notable People
Historical Figures
Historical figures include Cai Hao, a Han dynasty General Who Crossed the Liao; Cai Geng, Jin dynasty Administrator of Dongguan; Cai Qiang, Sui dynasty registrar of Yuyang Commandery; and Cai Fengxiang, a Ming dynasty commander of the Haining Guard in Zhejiang.
Reference: 采姓_采姓的来源_采姓族谱_姓氏采姓的名人_采氏家谱_百家姓
