Origins of the Gong (龚) surname
Chinese sources record 8 separate lines of origin for the Gong (龚) surname. Each is summarised below with its source.
Originated from Gong Gu, a minister of the Yellow Emperor
Legend says the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi, 黄帝) had a minister named Gong Gu (共鼓), whose descendants adopted 'Gong' (共) as their surname; later, some descendants added the 'dragon' (long, 龙) radical to 'Gong' to form the surname Gong (龚) while fleeing disaster.
Originated from Gong Gong, a minister of Emperor Yao
Legend says Emperor Yao (Yao, 尧) had a minister named Gong Gong (共工), whose descendants adopted 'Gong' (共) as their surname; later, some descendants added the 'dragon' (long, 龙) radical to 'Gong' to form the surname Gong (龚) while fleeing disaster.
Originated from the Shang-dynasty state of Gong
The ancient state of Gong (共国) was a vassal state during the Shang dynasty (Shang, 商); it was destroyed by King Wen of Zhou (Zhou Wen Wang, 周文王) after attacking the Western Zhou (Xi Zhou, 西周), and its surviving people adopted 'Gong' (共) as their clan name; later, some changed it to Gong (龚).
Originated from Ji (姬) lineage: Duke He of Gong
During the Western Zhou (Xi Zhou, 西周), the aristocrat He (和) was enfeoffed at Gong (共), becoming known as Duke He of Gong (Gong Bo He, 共伯和); his descendants adopted 'Gong' (共) as their surname, and later some added the 'dragon' (long, 龙) radical to form Gong (龚) while fleeing disaster.
Originated from Gong Shu Duan of Zheng
During the Spring and Autumn period (Chunqiu, 春秋), Shu Duan (叔段), son of Duke Wu of Zheng (Zheng Wu Gong, 郑武公), failed in a rebellion and fled to Gong (共), where he became known as Gong Shu Duan (共叔段); some of his descendants adopted 'Gong' (共) as their surname, which later evolved into Gong (龚).
Originated from Duke Gong (Gong Tai Zi Shen Sheng) of Jin
Shen Sheng (申生), Crown Prince of Duke Xian of Jin (Jin Xian Gong, 晋献公), died unjustly; his younger brother Duke Hui of Jin (Jin Hui Gong, 晋惠公) posthumously honored him as Duke Gong (Gong Tai Zi, 恭太子); because 'Gong' (恭) and 'Gong' (共) were interchangeable, his descendants adopted 'Gong' (共) as their surname, and later some added the 'dragon' (long, 龙) radical to form Gong (龚).
Gong clan added 'dragon' to avoid persecution
Members of the Gong (共) clan added the 'dragon' (long, 龙) radical to 'Gong' (共) to form the surname Gong (龚) while hiding to escape persecution; this surname shares origins with Hong (洪), Gong (恭), and Gong (共).
Liu Gui Fen Xing (Six Cassia Surnames Division)
In the late Five Dynasties period (Wu Dai, 五代), Qian Du Gong (Qian Du, 乾度) of the Weng (翁) clan in Fujian (Fu Jian, 福建) changed his six sons’ surnames to Hong (洪), Jiang (江), Wang (汪), Weng (翁), Gong (龚), and Fang (方) to avoid war-related calamities, forming the Six Cassia (Liu Gui, 六桂) joint-clan alliance.