Shi Family History

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 石 meaning ‘stone’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of the personal name Shi Que (石碏) a highly esteemed official in the state of Wey during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (ii) from one of the 'Nine Sogdian Surnames’ also known as ‘nine surnames of Zhaowu’ because their ancestors came from Zhaowu an ancient city in present-day Gansu province in northwestern China. During the Sui and Tang dynasties (581–987 AD) there were nine Sogdian states in Central Asia, one of which was called Shi (石) in Chinese.

Between 649 and 655 AD these states submitted to Emperor Gaozong of Tang (628 - 683 AD). The natives and their descendants from the state of Shi (石) in China acquired the surname Shi (石). (iii) from the second element of the personal name Zi Shi (子石), style name of a prince of the state of Zheng and another prince of the state of Song during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iv) from the second element of the personal name Bo Shi (伯石), style name of an official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

(v) adopted as a surname by the Wu Shi Lan (烏石蘭) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (vi) adopted in place of several other surnames including Zhang (張), Ran (冉), and Lou (婁). Mandarin form of the surname 史 meaning ‘history’ or ‘official historiographer’ in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Cang Jie, the official historiographer during the reign of the legendary Huang Di, the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC).

(ii) from Shi (史), post name of an official in charge of recording historical events during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). The surname was subsequently adopted by descendants of official historiographers in many states during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from one of the 'Nine Sogdian Surnames’ also known as ‘nine surnames of Zhaowu’ because their ancestors came from Zhaowu an ancient city in present-day Gansu province in northwestern China.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties (581–987 AD) there were nine Sogdian states in Central Asia, one of which was called Shi (史) in Chinese. (iv) adopted as a surname by the A Shi Na (阿史那) family, members of a Turkic tribe during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). (v) borne by descendants of Shi Ji Xian (史繼先) who was endowed with the surname Shi (史) by Emperor Suzong of Tang (reigned 756–762 AD). Mandarin form of the surname 施 meaning ‘give, grant’ or ‘execute’ in Chinese.