Tong Surname

Surname Overview

Tong is a relatively uncommon Han Chinese surname, currently distributed in Beijing, Taiyuan and Linfen in Shanxi, Wuhan in Hubei, and Chengdu in Sichuan.

Reference: 彤姓_彤姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Two Origins

Two origins are given for the Tong surname: one traces it to Ji descent, when a son of King Cheng of Zhou was enfeoffed at Tong and his descendants adopted the state name; the other traces it to the Tongcheng clan, which later dropped the character “cheng.”

Reference: 彤姓_彤姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Historical Records

Documentary Attestations

The Tong surname is recorded in the Clan Records sections of the Zheng Tongzhi and Xu Tongzhi; related records also appear in the Guangyun, Shiji, Lushi, and Tongzhi.

Reference: 彤姓_彤姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commandery And Variant

The Tong surname has the commandery of Runan; it is also written as “Rong” with the character 肜.

Reference: 彤姓_彤姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

Migration And Distribution

Descendants of Tong migrants from the locust tree in Hongdong County, Shanxi, are distributed across Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Beijing.

Reference: 彤姓_彤姓的来源_彤姓族谱_姓氏彤姓的名人_彤氏家谱_百家姓

Notable People

Ming Dynasty Figures

In the Ming dynasty, Tong Hao served as an instructor of Sanshui County during the Yongle era, while Tong Kai served as a Nanchang qianhu.

Reference: 彤姓_彤姓的来源和历史_百家姓