Gong Family History

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 龔 meaning ‘showing respect for elders or guests’ in ancient Chinese: adopted in place of another Chinese surname 共 (Gong in Mandarin pinyin). For some families the surname is said to be traceable back to Gong Gong (共工) an official during the reign of the legendary Huang Di or ‘the Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). Other families with this name are from the state of Gong (共) located in present-day Huixian (in Henan province) which was granted to Ji He known as Gong Bo (the Earl of Gong) a figure during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). For other families the surname is borne by descendants of Shen Sheng a prince in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC) with Gong as his posthumous title. His descendants inherited this title as their surname. Later some descendants with the surname 共 changed their surname to 龔 in order to escape from persecution by their enemies. Mandarin form of the surname 鞏 meaning ‘to consolidate’ in Chinese: (i) from the placename Gong (鞏) the name of a fief or state (located in present-day Gongxian in Henan province) which is said to have been granted to Gong Jian Gong (鞏簡公 Duke Jian of Gong) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) later annexed by the state of Jin. (ii) traced back to a family from the Qiang minority ethnic group in ancient China. Mandarin form of the surname 宮 meaning ‘royal palace’ in Chinese: (i) from Gong Men (宮門 literally meaning ‘palace gates’) the name of an official post during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) in charge of repairing and cleaning the gates of the palace. (ii) from the personal name Gong Zhi Qi (宮之奇) an official in the state of Yu (located in present-day Shanxi province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) shortened form of other ancient compound Chinese surnames including Dong-Gong (東宮 literally meaning ‘the east of the palace’) Nan-Gong (南宮 literally meaning ‘the south of the palace’) Xi-Gong (西宮 literally meaning ‘the west of the palace’) and Bei-Gong (北宮 literally meaning ‘the north of the palace’). Mandarin form of the surname 公 meaning ‘Duke’: from Gong (公) the Chinese equivalent of the peerage ‘Duke’. Some people inherited the name of the peerage of their ancestors as the surname. Mandarin form of the surname 弓 meaning ‘bow’ in Chinese: (i) borne by descendants of Hui a grandson of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). Hui was given the title Gong Zheng (弓正) denoting an official in charge of making bows. (弓 Gong means ‘bow’ in Chinese). (ii) from the second element of the personal name Shu Gong (叔弓) style name of an official in the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). Mandarin form of the surname 貢 meaning ‘paying tribute to the emperor by subjects or vassal states’ in ancient Chinese: from the second element of the personal name Zi Gong (子貢) style name of Duan-Mu Ci a student of Confucius (551–479 BC).7: Mandarin form of the surname 恭 meaning ‘courtesy’ or ‘respectful’ in Chinese: (i) from the placename Gong (恭 also written as 共) the name of an ancient state (located in present-day Gansu province). (ii) from Gong (恭) the posthumous title of Shen Sheng (died in 656 BC) crown prince of the state of Jin who died in an unrest. (iii) adopted in place of another surname Jing (敬) that happened to be identical to the title of Emperor Jing of Liang (ruler of the state of Liang 543–558 AD) which was taboo in ancient China.8: alternative Cantonese form of the surname 江 see Jiang

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