Cai Family History

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 蔡 originally referring to ‘the tortoise used in ancient rituals of divination’ in Chinese: from the placename Cai (蔡) a fief (originally located in Shangcai in Henan province) which was granted to Du also known as Cai Shu (蔡叔) son of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC). Later Cai Shu plotted rebellions and was eventually sent into exile.

But his son Hu also known as Cai Zhong (蔡仲) was a revered man and was granted the fief of Cai (蔡) which later became a state during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). After it was annexed by the state of Chu in 447 BC the name of the state was adopted as a surname.

Catalan (Girona and Alicante; Caí): possibly from the Biblical personal name Caín ‘Cain’. Spanish: unexplained.

Italian (Tuscany): from old Tuscan cai ‘house’ applied as a topographic name, a habitational name from any place called with this word.

Vietnamese (Cái): from the Chinese surname 盖 see Gai.