Surname Overview
A Rare Surname
Tou is a currently uncommon surname, found today in Taiyuan, Changzhi, and Yuncheng in Shanxi; Yifeng in Jiangxi; Shaowu in Fujian; and Maguan and Jiangchuan in Yunnan.
Tou Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 12Tou / Tou
Origins
Named After a Vessel
One account traces Tou to the Jiang surname: after the Tian clan replaced the ruling house of Qi, Duke Kang of Qi was exiled at sea, and his descendants adopted the name of the wine vessel tou to commemorate the episode.
Historical Records
Documentary Records
The Zheng Tongzhi: Shizu lüe records the surname Tou in Linhai and notes that Tou Tao served as governor of Chuzhou during the Later Han of the Five Dynasties.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Hall Names
The Tou surname has Linhai and Liaoxi as commandery seats, and Huichu Tang and Liaoxi Tang as hall names.
Migration and Distribution
Distribution
The Tou surname was found in Linhai, Zhejiang, during the Qing period; today it is also distributed in Kaihua and Yuyao in Zhejiang, and in Taipei and Taichung, Taiwan.
Notable People
Historical Figure
Tou Tao was a Song-dynasty official who served as governor of Chuzhou.
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.