Description:
Chinese surnames are derived from the given names of ancestors. Most Chinese surnames have two components: the given name and the family name. The given name is usually the first name of the ancestor, while the family name is the last name of the ancestor. Chinese surnames can also be composed of other elements, such as the place of origin or the name of a ancestor's clan. Chinese surnames originated in the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BC). At that time, the Chinese government started to assign surnames to its citizens. The government assigned surnames to people based on their place of origin, occupation, or other distinguishing features. The government also allowed people to adopt new surnames. During the Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BC), the Chinese government started to adopt surnames as a way of distinguishing between people. The Zhou government also allowed people to change their surnames if they were unhappy with their original surname. During the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC), the Chinese government started to standardize the pronunciation of surnames. The Qin government also created a system in which people could only have one surname. During the Han dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), the Chinese government started to register all of the surnames of its citizens. The Han government also created a system in which people could only have one surname. During the Sui dynasty (581-618 AD), the Chinese government started to allow people to change their surnames if they were unhappy with their original surname. During the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), the Chinese government started to allow people to change their surnames if they were unhappy with their original surname. During the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Chinese government started to allow people to change their surnames if they were unhappy with their original surname. During the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368 AD), the Chinese government started to allow people to change their surnames if they were unhappy with their original surname. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Chinese government started to allow people to change their surnames if they were unhappy with their original surname. During the Qing dynasty (1644-1911 AD), the Chinese government started to allow people to change their surnames if they were unhappy with their original surname. During the Republic of China (1912-1949 AD), the Chinese government started to allow people to change their surnames if they were unhappy with their original surname. During the People's Republic of China (1949-present), the Chinese government has not allowed people to change their surnames.
