Zai Surname

Surname Overview

Overview

Zai is a relatively rare Han Chinese surname, currently distributed in Wuqing of Tianjin, Jingxian and Weichang of Hebei, and Taiyuan and Datong of Shanxi.

Reference: 宰姓_宰姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Zhou-Dynasty Origin

One branch derives from the Ji surname: Zhou Gong Kong, a descendant of Zhou Gong Dan, served as Grand Steward, and his descendants adopted the office title as their surname, being called Zai Kong or Zai Zhougong.

Reference: 宰姓_宰姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Other Official-Title Origins

The surname is also associated with theories deriving it from the official titles zai, zairen, zaishi, and zaizui of the Shang and Zhou periods; Zairen, Zaishi, and Zaizui later could be shortened to the single surname Zai.

Reference: 宰姓_宰姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Historical Records

Attestations and Limits

The surname is recorded in the Clan Records section of the Zheng Tongzhi and Xu Tongzhi; regarding which branch a family belongs to, the available account states that historical sources cannot establish it and that it can only be traced through a family genealogy.

Reference: 宰姓_宰姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Commanderies and Clan Halls

Commanderies and Hall Name

The recorded commanderies are Lu and Xihe, and the hall name is Linzi Hall. Xihe Commandery corresponded roughly to the Yellow River area between present-day Shaanxi and Shanxi.

Reference: 宰姓_宰姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Migration and Distribution

Geographic Distribution

The Zai surname is also recorded in Linxian and Neihuang of Henan, Jiading of Shanghai, Huainan of Anhui, Chayu of Tibet, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei, and Chiayi in Taiwan, Pingxiang and Jinggangshan of Jiangxi, and Beijing.

Reference: 宰姓_宰姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Notable People

Historical Figures

Zai Kong was Grand Steward of the Zhou royal house. Zai Yu was from Lu, a disciple of Confucius, listed in the School of Speech, and later served as Grandee of Linzi in Qi. The Han dynasty also had Zai Chao.

Reference: 宰姓_宰姓的来源和历史_百家姓