Origins of the Sha (沙) surname
Chinese sources record 12 separate lines of origin for the Sha (沙) surname. Each is summarised below with its source.
Originated from Shennong-shi (神农氏)
Some branches of the Sha (沙) surname revere Shennong-shi (神农氏) as their founding ancestor; descendants of his minister Susa-shi (夙沙氏) later simplified their surname to Sha (沙).
Originated from the Sha Hou State (沙侯国)
During the Western Zhou Dynasty (西周), the Sha Hou State existed in what is now She County (涉县), Hebei Province, and its people adopted the state's name as their surname.
Originated from the Shasui (沙随) clan
During the Spring and Autumn period, Shasui (沙随) was a place in the State of Song (宋) where feudal lords held alliances; those who lost their states or noble ranks were called the Gongsha (公沙) or Shasui (沙随) clans, and their descendants later simplified the surname to Sha (沙).
Originated from the Xianbei Shatuo (鲜卑沙陀) clan
The Xianbei (鲜卑) Shatuo (沙陀) clan changed their surname to Sha (沙) during historical evolution.
Originated from the Turkic Sha Jin (沙金) clan
Descendants of the Turkic Sha Jin (沙金) clan changed their surname to Sha (沙).
Originated from the Sashui (沙随) and other clans of Baekje
Clans from the ancient Korean peninsula kingdom of Baekje—including the Shazhai (砂宅), Shazhai (沙宅), Shazha (沙吒), Shaman (沙門), and Sashui (沙随)—migrated into the Central Plains and adopted the Sha (沙) surname.
Descended from Sha Gongmu (沙公穆)
During the Han dynasty, descendants of the figure Sha Gongmu (沙公穆) dropped the character 'Gong' (公) and adopted 'Sha' (沙) as their surname.
Originated from a branch of the Xia (夏) surname
The Shazha (沙吒), Shatuo (沙陀), and Sha (沙) lineages are classified as branches under the Xia (夏) surname system.
Originated from clans associated with Japanese pirates on the Korean Peninsula
Clans to which figures associated with Japanese pirates on the Korean Peninsula belonged—such as Sha Guruwu (沙古汝武), Sha Keye (沙也可), and Sha Rumou (沙汝某)—changed their surnames to Sha (沙).
Originated from the Hui ethnic group
Muslims from Central Asia whose Arabic or Persian names contained the sound 'Sha', Persian speakers who used 'Sha' (meaning 'king'), and those granted the surname by imperial decree were mostly assimilated into the Hui ethnic group's Sha (沙) surname; the Sha (沙) surname is one of the thirteen surnames of the Hui ethnic group.
Originated from the Manchu ethnic group
During the historical process of sinicization, some Manchu (Manzu) people adopted the surname Sha (沙), and they also revere the Divine Farmer (Shennongshi, 神农氏) as their founding ancestor.
Originated from the Xie (谢) clan of Zangke (牂柯)
A prominent Xie (谢) clan in the Zangke (牂柯) region changed their surname to Sha (沙).
Surnames with a shared origin
Some entries have not been translated into English yet and are omitted.