Zan (昝) is a Chinese surname.[1] It is romanized Tsan in Wade–Giles, or Zaan in Cantonese romanization.[2] According to a 2013 study, it was the 391st most common name in China; it was shared by 87,000 people, or 0.007% of the population, with the province with the most people being Sichuan.[3] It is the 165th name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem.[4]

Zan
Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZǎn
Wade–GilesTsan3
IPA[tsàn]
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingZaan2
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese/t͡sʌmX/

Origins

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  • According to the Shuowen Jiezi, the surname may have originated as a corruption of (cǎn), which had a similar pronunciation.
  • a surname originating in ancient southwestern China
  • adopted as a surname by the Zan Lu (昝盧) or Chi Lu (叱盧) families from the Xianbei people in northern China during the Northern Wei period (AD 386–534)
  • said to be adopted in place of the surname Jiu ( meaning ‘disaster’)[5]

Notable people

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  • Zan Jian (昝堅), Jin-era general
  • Zan Jiaxiang (昝家驤), basketball player and coach

References

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  1. ^ "Chinese character 昝 (zan3) components and definition (surname Zan)". Mandarin Lang.
  2. ^ Morrison, Robert (December 29, 1865). "Wu Chʻe Yün Fu: A Dictionary of the Chinese Language". London Mission Press – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Yuan Yida (袁义达), Qiu Jiaru, 邱家儒. 中国四百大姓. Beijing Book Co. Inc., 1 January 2013
  4. ^ K. S. Tom. [1989] (1989). Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends and Lore of the Middle Kingdom. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-1285-9.
  5. ^ "Zan Name Meaning & Zan Family History at Ancestry.com®". www.ancestry.com.