Surname Overview
A Rare Surname
Tai is a Chinese surname with about 10,000 bearers in mainland China today, ranking 714th.
Tai Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 70Tai / Tai
Origins
Two Lineages
One lineage descends from Taibo, eldest son of King Tai of Zhou, and adopted an ancestor's name as its surname; another descends from Taidian, a minister of King Wen of Zhou.
Historical Records
Documentary Records
The surname is included in Xu Tongzhi: Shizulüe. Xingshi Kaolüe records it as descending from Taidian, traditionally counted among the four companions of King Wen of Zhou.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Jingzhao Commandery
The surname's ancestral commandery is Jingzhao, which administered the Chang'an region and was governed from present-day urban Xi'an.
Migration and Distribution
Geographic Distribution
The surname is concentrated in Shaanxi, Henan, and Hebei, which together account for about 70% of its nationwide population. It is also found in Tianjin, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanxi, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Sichuan, and other areas.
Notable People
Historical Figures
In the Han dynasty, Tai Shilin served as a general under Emperor Cheng. In the Ming dynasty, Tai Xingshi served as magistrate of Anyuan, and Tai Gu as magistrate of Tan County.
Continue your family research
Start with ancestral counties, villages, personal names and dates. Record genealogy titles, volumes, editions and catalog identifiers. A shared surname does not prove a shared lineage; compare branch records.
Surname attestation references
These catalogs or datasets attest written names, not every origin or lineage claim on this page.
This page includes automatically organized material. Check the references and original family documents.
Add or correct information
Submit the information and a reference link for possible inclusion on this page.