Origins of the Hua (华) surname
Chinese sources record 7 separate lines of origin for the Hua (华) surname, and name 3 commanderies of origin (junwang). Each is summarised below with its source.
Originated from the Zi (子) surname
In the early Western Zhou dynasty, Wei Ziqi (微子启), a member of the Shang royal clan, was enfeoffed at Shangqiu (商丘) and established the State of Song (宋国); in the early Eastern Zhou dynasty, Haofu Shuo (好父说), son of Duke Dai of Song (宋戴公), was granted the fief of Hua (华) as his stipend land, and his descendants adopted the name of this fief as their surname.
Originated from the Mi (芈) surname
Mi Rong (芈戎), the maternal younger brother of Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin (秦宣太后), entered Qin to serve as an official and was enfeoffed as Lord of Huayang (华阳君); the people of Qin respectfully addressed him as Lord Hua (华侯), and his descendants adopted this honorific title as their surname.
Originated from the Si (姒) surname
During the Xia dynasty, King Zhongkang (仲康) performed the Fengshan (封禅) ceremony at Mount Hua (华山), the Western Sacred Mountain, and resided there; his collateral descendants thereafter adopted the name of Mount Hua (华山) as their surname.
Manchu surname change
During the Qing dynasty, descendants of the Manchu Aisin Gioro (爱新觉罗) clan of the Eight Banners changed their surname to Hua (华); in the 16th year of the Jiaqing (嘉庆) reign, the Lingshan (岭夷) people of the Ba Jiao Gou (芭蕉沟) region changed their surnames upon being incorporated into the imperial administrative system and adopted the surname Hua (华); the Xibe (锡伯) clan of Huaxihaer (华西哈尔) also Sinicized their surname to Hua (华).
Manchu Alai (阿赉) clan Sinicization
The Manchu Alai (阿赉) clan, originally residing in Wengguoluo (翁郭罗) city, commonly adopted the Han Chinese surname Hua (华) from the mid-Qing dynasty onward.
Manchu Husihali (瑚锡哈哩) clan Sinicization
The Manchu Husihali (瑚锡哈哩) clan adopted their place of residence as their clan name, residing traditionally in areas such as Husihali (瑚锡哈哩); from the mid-Qing dynasty onward, members of this clan commonly adopted the Han Chinese surname Hua (华).
Mongol Huanute (华努特) clan Sinicization
The Mongol Huanute (华努特) clan commonly adopted the Han Chinese surname Hua (华) from the late Qing dynasty through the early Republican period.
Commanderies of origin (junwang)
- Wuling Commandery (武陵郡)
- Pingyuan Commandery (平原郡)
- Pei Commandery (沛郡)
Hall names (tanghao)
- Wuling Hall (武陵堂)
- Benren Hall (本仁堂)
- Cunyu Hall (存裕堂)
- Yigu Hall (诒谷堂)
- Xiangxu Hall (享叙堂)
- Peiyuan Hall (培元堂)
- Shouhe Hall (寿和堂)
- Yongsī Hall (永思堂)
- Xiangde Hall (享德堂)
- Sixun Hall (思训堂)
- Qingyu Hall (庆余堂)
- Dunben Hall (敦本堂)
- Ligeng Hall (礼耕堂)
- Youqi Hall (佑启堂)