Zhai Family History

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 翟 originally denoting ‘pheasants’; also used to refer to certain minority ethnic groups in northern China. The surname can be traced back to the placename Zhai (翟 pronounced Di in ancient Chinese):

(i) 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) a fief (located in Henan province) granted to the second son of King Cheng of Zhou (reigned 1042–1021 BC).