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Ji Family History

Ji Name Meaning

Chinese:: Mandarin form of the surname 紀 meaning ‘record’ or ‘era’ in Chinese: (i) from Ji (紀) the name of an ancient state (located in Shouguang in Shandong province) granted to descendants of the legendary Yan Di the Yan Emperor. After the state was annexed by the state of Qi in 550 BC the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (ii) adopted in place of another Chinese surname Shu (舒) during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD). Mandarin form of the surname 季 meaning ‘youngest son’ in ancient Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Ji Lian (季連) the youngest son of Lu Zhong a descendant of the legendary king Zhuanxu (traditional dates: 2514–2437 BC). (ii) said to be borne by descendants of Ji You (季友) the youngest son of the Duke Huan of Lu (the 15th ruler of the state of Lu died 694 BC). Mandarin form of the surname 冀 meaning ‘hope’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Ji (冀) the name of 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) from the placename Ji (冀) the name of a fief (located in Shanxi province) granted to Xi Rui an official in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). Mandarin form of the surname 姬 a complimentary term for ‘women’ in ancient Chinese: said to be the original surname of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC) perhaps from the name of a river called Ji Shui (姬水). This was also the surname of the royal family of the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) and the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BC). Mandarin form of the surname 籍 meaning ‘books’ in ancient Chinese borne by the descendants of Bo Yan an official in charge of classical books and historical records in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). Mandarin form of the surname 嵇: (i) from the placename Ji (嵇) the name of a hill (located in Anhui province) where people with other surnames Kuai-Ji (會稽) or Xi (奚) migrated and adopted the name of the hill as the surname. (ii) adopted as a surname by the Tong Ji (統稽) and the He Xi (紇奚) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD).7: Mandarin form of the surname 吉 meaning ‘lucky’ in Chinese: (i) simplified form of the Chinese surname Ji (姞) originally the surname conferred on Bo Shu who was said to be a descendant of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC) and granted with the fief Southern Yan (located in Henan province). (ii) from part of the personal name of Yin Ji Fu (尹吉甫) an official during the reign of King Xuan of Zhou (reigned 827–782 BC).8: Mandarin form of the surname 計 meaning ‘calculate’ in Chinese: (i) possibly from Ji (計) the name of an ancient state (located in Shandong province) during the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) possibly from the placename Ji Jin (計斤) the original capital (located in Shandong province) of the state of Ju during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC).9: Mandarin form of the surname 薊 denoting a kind of thistle in Chinese: from the placename Ji (薊) (located in present-day Beijing).10: Mandarin form of the surname 暨 meaning ‘and’ or ‘as well as’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Ji (暨) the name of a fief (thought to have been located in Jiangsu province) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (ii) adopted in place of the Chinese surname Gai (概) in order to escape from feud and persecution.1 Mandarin form of the surname 汲 meaning ‘sap draw water’ in Chinese: (i) from Ji (汲) the name of an ancient state (located in present-day Henan province) during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) which was annexed by the state of Wey and became a fief granted to the crown prince of Duke Xuan of Wey (ruler of the state of Wey died 700 BC). The name of the state (fief) was then adopted as a surname by the residents. (ii) from the placename Ji (汲) the name of a fief (located in Shandong province) in the state of Qi granted to the descendants of Duke Xuan of Qi (ruler of the state of Qi died 301 BC). (iii) said to be borne by the descendants of the royal families in the state of Chen during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iv) a surname from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China.

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


Similar surnames: Li, Jin, Qi, Lu, Gu, Pi, Ni, Yi, Su, Du

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Where is the Ji family from?

You can see how Ji families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ji family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there was 1 Ji family living in California. This was 100% of all the recorded Ji's in USA. California had the highest population of Ji families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ji surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

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Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Ji. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ji 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 514 immigration records available for the last name Ji. 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 186 military records available for the last name Ji. For the veterans among your Ji ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Ji lifespan?

Between 1980 and 2004, in the United States, Ji life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1997, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Ji in 1980 was 72, and 78 in 2004.

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