Origins of the Gou (苟) surname
Chinese sources record 8 separate lines of origin for the Gou (苟) surname. Each is summarised below with its source.
Originating from a son of the Yellow Emperor
According to the Guoyu (国语), among the fourteen sons of the Yellow Emperor who each received surnames, one took the surname Gou (苟).
Originating from descendants of Emperor Shun
According to the Lushi (路史), some descendants of Emperor Shun (帝舜) adopted the surname Gou (苟).
Originating from the fief of a Chu State minister
According to the Lushi (路史), during the Spring and Autumn period, a minister of the Chu State (楚国) was enfeoffed with a fief; his descendants adopted the name of that fief as their surname, Gou (苟).
Originating from the Xun (荀) surname, changed for refuge
According to the Jiujiupian (急就篇), descendants of the Xun (荀) clan of the Jin State (晋国) during the Spring and Autumn period changed their surname from Xun (荀) to Gou (苟) to escape danger.
Originating from a place name (the Qicao area of He’nei)
According to the Tongzhi · Shizu Lüe (通志·氏族略), the Gou (苟) surname may have originated from the fertile Qicao (杞草) region in He’nei (河内), where residents adopted Gou (苟) as their surname; however, this theory is regarded as an unfounded popular tradition.
Originating from the Xianbei Ruogu (若干) clan and the Qiang Kewuji (哭吾己) clan
According to the Wei Shu · Guanshi Zhi (魏书·官氏志), during the Northern Wei dynasty, the Xianbei (鲜卑) Ruogu (若干) clan changed their surname to Gou (苟); the Qiang (羌) Kewuji (哭吾己) clan also adopted Gou (苟) upon sinicization; today, the She (畲) and Hui (回) ethnic groups also include people bearing the Gou (苟) surname.
Originating from the Jing (敬) surname, split due to naming taboo
According to the Qidong Yeyu (齐东野语), after Shi Jingtang (石敬瑭), founder of the Later Jin dynasty, ascended the throne, people with the surname Jing (敬) divided it into Gou (苟) and Wen (文) to avoid the naming taboo associated with his given name.
Originating from the Ju (句) surname, with grass radical added to avoid naming taboo
According to the Jiujiupian (急就篇), to avoid the naming taboo of Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou (赵构), the character Ju (句) had the grass radical added to form Gou (苟).