Xiang Family History

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 向 meaning ‘direction’ or ‘towards’ in Chinese: (i) from Xiang (向) the name of an ancient state (located in Shandong province) annihilated in the early Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) from Xiang (向) the name of an ancient state (located in Henan province) annihilated in the late the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (iii) from the first element of the personal name Xiang Fu (向父) style name of Bi son of the Duke Huan of Song (ruler of the state of Song died in 651 BC). Mandarin form of the surname 項 meaning ‘nape’ in ancient Chinese: from Xiang (項) the name of an ancient state (in present-day Xiangcheng in Henan province) said to have been annexed by the state of Qi or the state of Lu in 647 BC. Mandarin form of the surname 相: (i) from the placename Xiang (相) a city in the early Shang dynasty (1600 –1046 BC). (ii) from the personal name of Xiang Tu (相土) said to be the ancestor of the royal family of the Shang dynasty (1600 –1046 BC). (iii)ttraced back to some minority ethnic groups in southwestern China. Mandarin form of the surname 香 meaning ‘fragrant’ in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Xiang Ju (香居) an official during the reign of King Xuan of Qi (ruler of the state of Qi died in 301 BC). (ii) from Xiang (香) the name of an ancient state in northwestern China and Central Asia. (iii) said to have been adopted as a surname by certain families in place of the Chinese surname Zha (查) in order to escape from persecution.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022