Xuan Family History

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 宣: (i) from Xuan (宣) posthumous title of King Xuan of Zhou (reigned 827–782 BC) one of the kings of the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (ii) from Xuan (宣) posthumous title of the Duke Xuan of Song (the 13th ruler of the state of Song reigned 747–729 BC). (iii) from Xuan Bo (宣伯 'Earl Xuan') posthumous title of Shusun Qiaoru an official in the state of Lu (located mainly in present-day Shandong province) during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).

In ancient Chinese 宣 denoted the grand hall of an imperial palace; it was also used to refer to imperial edicts and to an very rare and valuable kind of jade. (Jade is regarded in Chinese culture as an auspicious material that can bring good luck and ward off evil.) These meanings might explain why this Chinese character was sometimes used as a posthumous title by members of royal families.

Mandarin form of the surname 禤: possibly traced back to Xuan Chunwang (禤纯旺) an official in the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 AD). This surname is found mainly in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hong Kong.

Mandarin form of the surname 玄 meaning ‘mysterious’ in Chinese: (i) said to be traced back to Xuan Xiao (玄霄) son of the legendary emperor Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). (ii) said to be traced back to Xuan Shou (玄壽) an official during the reign of the legendary emperor Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). (iii) a Korean surname.

Mandarin form of the surname 軒 probably derived from the first element of Xuan Yuan (軒轅) personal name of the legendary emperor Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC).