Huan Family History

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 宦 meaning ‘officials’ in ancient Chinese and therefore borne by descendants of officials in ancient China.

Alternative Mandarin pronunciation of the Chinese surname 郇; see Xun 1(ii). Mandarin form of the surname 桓 meaning ‘big’ in ancient Chinese: (i) said to be traced back to Huan Chang (桓常) an official during the reign of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC).

(ii) From Huan (桓) the posthumous title of the Duke Huan of Qi (died 643 BC) in the state of Qi. (iii) Adopted as the Chinese surname by the Wu Huan (乌桓) ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).

Teochew or Hokkien form of the surname 范 see Fan.