Surname Overview
Pronunciation and Overview
As a surname, 湛 is pronounced zhàn, the fourth tone, and is relatively uncommon; it is distinct from the surname 詹.
Zhan Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 93,660Zhan / Chan
Origins
The Zhengan Origin Theory
A branch of Yu the Great's descendants established the state of Zhengan in the Xia dynasty. After its destruction, its people combined parts of “斟” and “灌” to form 湛 as a surname.
Reference: “湛”姓怎么读？是zhàn还是zhān？一文讲清读音、起源和名人 - 百度文库
Other Origin Traditions
Other traditions trace the surname to residents of ancient 湛, descendants of Emperor Yao, descendants of the Zheng official Pei Chen, or a transformation from 谌 caused by an erroneous textual record.
Historical Records
Position in The Hundred Family Surnames
The Hundred Family Surnames lists 湛 as the 103rd surname and gives its pronunciation as zhàn.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Migration and the Yuzhang Lineage
The 湛 surname later migrated south and became a prominent lineage in Yuzhang Commandery, known as the Yuzhang lineage; its distribution is recorded in Nanchang, Jiangxi.
Notable People
Historical Figures
湛若水 was a Ming-dynasty scholar, passed the palace examination in 1505, and served successively as Nanjing minister of Personnel, Rites, and War. Tao Kan's mother, 湛氏, was known for educating her son well and treating others generously.
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