Origins of the Mo (莫) surname
Chinese sources record 9 separate lines of origin for the Mo (莫) surname, and name 2 commanderies of origin (junwang). Each is summarised below with its source.
Derived from Place Names
In ancient times, Zhuanxu (颛顼) built Moyang City (莫阳城) in present-day Renqiu (任丘) and Pingxiang (平乡) counties of Hebei Province; descendants later dropped the '邑' (city) radical and adopted Mo (莫) as their surname.
Derived from Official Titles
During the Spring and Autumn period (春秋时期), descendants of the hereditary Chu State (楚国) official post of Mo'ao (莫敖) adopted this title as their surname; the Qu Yuan (屈原) family also held this office for generations, so some Mo (莫) families descend from the Qu (屈) lineage.
Abbreviated Form of Mu (幕) Surname
The Mo (莫) and Mu (幕) surnames share a common origin: descendants of Mu (幕), the ancestor of Emperor Shun (舜帝); Mo (莫) is an abbreviated written form of Mu (幕).
Xianbei Ethnic Groups Adopting the Mo Surname during Northern Wei
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, descendants of the Xianbei (鲜卑) surnames Xingmo (邢莫) and Monalou (莫那娄) of the Northern Wei (北魏) adopted Mo (莫) as their surname.
Tangut People Adopting the Mo Surname
After the Tang and Five Dynasties periods, some Tangut (党项) people—who established the Western Xia (西夏) state—adopted Mo (莫) as their surname.
Xianbei Clan Wanqi Adopting the Mo Surname
Many members of the Xianbei (鲜卑) clan Wanqi (万俟) adopted Mo (莫) as their surname.
Manchu Clan Namo Adopting the Mo Surname
Members of the Manchu (满族) clan Namo (那莫) adopted Mo (莫) as their Han Chinese surname.
Zhuang Ethnic Group’s Founding-Surname Legend
According to Zhuang (壮族) legend in Guangxi, Bu Huangyi (卜黄依) assigned surnames to clans based on gift items presented; those who brought oxen received the surname Mo (莫), as ‘mo’ means ‘yellow ox’ in the Zhuang language.
Common Surname among Southwest Ethnic Minorities
The Bouyei (布依族), Dong (侗族), Yao (瑶族), and other ethnic minorities in Southwest China also bear the Mo (莫) surname; some scholars hold that these groups share ancestral origins with the ancient Sanmiao (三苗) and Chiyou (蚩尤) tribes of Central China.
Commanderies of origin (junwang)
- Julu (巨鹿)
- Jiangling (江陵)