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Shang Family History

Shang Surname Meaning

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 商: (i) from Shang (商) the name of a dynasty in Chinese history (1600–1046 BC). In 1600 BC Cheng Tang defeated the last king of Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC) and established the Shang dynasty. Until 1046 BC the regime was overthrown by King Wu of Zhou (c. 1087–1043 BC) and the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) was founded. Some descendants of the royal family in the Shang dynasty then adopted 商 as their surname. (ii) from the placename Shang (商) the name of a fief (located in Xichuan in Henan province) that was granted to Shang Yang (商鞅) a famous official in the state of Qin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from the personal name of Shang Rong (商容) an official who lived during the reign of Zhou the last king of the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC).

Mandarin form of the surname 尚 meaning ‘esteem’ in Chinese: (i) from Shang (尚) personal name of Jiang Shang (姜尚) or Shang Fu (尚父) known as Jiang Ziya or Jiang Tai Gong (c. 11th century BC) a revered official during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) and also the ancestor of the kings of the state of Qi (located in present-day Shandong province). He helped King Wu of Zhou (c. 1087–1043 BC) overthrow the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC) and made great contributions to the establishment of the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). Some of his descendants inherited 尚 his personal name as their surname.

(ii) from the personal name of Shang Kegu (尚可孤) who was from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 上 meaning ‘above’ or ‘up’ in Chinese: said to be traced back to Shang Zhideng (上之登) a carriage driver in the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

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

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Where is the Shang family from?

You can see how Shang families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shang family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Shang families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 3 Shang families living in Devon. This was 100% of all the recorded Shang's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Shang families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shang surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

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What Shang family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Shang. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shang census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Shang. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Shang. For the veterans among your Shang ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Shang lifespan?

Between 1967 and 2004, in the United States, Shang life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2001, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Shang in 1967 was 81, and 87 in 2004.

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