Surname Overview
An Ancient Surname and Its Progenitor
The Zhen surname is said to have arisen in the era of the Five Emperors, with Zhong Zhen regarded as its progenitor and its origin traditionally associated with pottery-making.
Zhen Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 318,189Zhen / Chen
Origins
Three Origin Traditions
The recorded traditions include descendants of Emperor Shun adopting the surname from the office of zhen official, descendants of Zhong Zhen adopting it from a fief or ancestral name, and the Northern Wei Xianbei Yuduzhen clan changing its surname to Zhen.
Historical Records
Early Textual Attestations
The Chenliu Fengsu Zhuan and Tongzhi: Shizu Lue both record that Shun made pottery by the riverside, after which his descendants adopted Zhen as their surname, associated with the Zhongshan and Henan lineages.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commandery and Hall Names
The Zhen surname is associated with the Zhongshan and Henan commanderies; its principal hall names include Huai Jin Tang, Zhongshan Tang, and Shunhe Tang.
Migration and Distribution
Southward Migration and Overseas Distribution
Branches of the Wuji Zhen family migrated in different directions. In the Song dynasty, Zhen Shunhe led his clan south to the Guangdong Four Districts, whose descendants later spread across Hong Kong, Macao, and several overseas countries.
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Surname attestation references
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