Ji Family History

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 紀 meaning ‘record’ or ‘era’ in Chinese: (i) from Ji (紀) the name of an ancient state (located in Shouguang in Shandong province) granted to descendants of the legendary Yan Di the Yan Emperor. After the state was annexed by the state of Qi in 550 BC, the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) adopted in place of another Chinese surname Shu (舒) during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). Mandarin form of the surname 季 meaning ‘youngest son’ in ancient Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Ji Lian (季連) the youngest son of Lu Zhong a descendant of the legendary king Zhuanxu (traditional dates: 2514–2437 BC).

(ii) said to be borne by descendants of Ji You (季友) the youngest son of the Duke Huan of Lu (the 15th ruler of the state of Lu died 694 BC). Mandarin form of the surname 冀 meaning ‘hope’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Ji (冀) the name of an ancient state (located in Shanxi province). After it was annexed by the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC), the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) from the placename Ji (冀), the name of a fief (located in Shanxi province) granted to Xi Rui an official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

Mandarin form of the surname 姬 a complimentary term for ‘women’ in ancient Chinese: said to be the original surname of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC) perhaps from the name of a river called Ji Shui (姬水). This was also the surname of the royal family of the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) and the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BC). Mandarin form of the surname 籍 meaning ‘books’ in ancient Chinese borne by the descendants of Bo Yan an official in charge of classical books and historical records in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

Mandarin form of the surname 嵇: (i) from the placename Ji (嵇) the name of a hill (located in Anhui province) where people with other surnames Kuai-Ji (會稽) or Xi (奚) migrated and adopted the name of the hill as the surname. (ii) adopted as a surname by the Tong Ji (統稽) and the He Xi (紇奚) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). Mandarin form of the surname 吉 meaning ‘lucky’ in Chinese: (i) simplified form of the Chinese surname Ji (姞) originally the surname conferred on Bo Shu who was said to be a descendant of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC) and granted with the fief Southern Yan (located in Henan province).

(ii) from part of the personal name of Yin Ji Fu (尹吉甫) an official during the reign of King Xuan of Zhou (reigned 827–782 BC). Mandarin form of the surname 計 meaning ‘calculate’ in Chinese: (i) possibly from Ji (計) the name of an ancient state (located in Shandong province) during the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) possibly from the placename Ji Jin (計斤) the original capital (located in Shandong province) of the state of Ju during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC).