Origins of the Zhai (翟) surname
Chinese sources record 6 separate lines of origin for the Zhai (翟) surname, and name 1 commandery of origin (junwang). Each is summarised below with its source.
Originated from the Wei (隗) surname
The Di (翟) surname originated from the Wei (隗) surname of the nomadic Red Di (Chidi) people in northern Central Plains during the Zhou Dynasty (周代). The Red Di were active among the states of Jin (晋), Wei (卫), Qi (齐), Lu (鲁), and Song (宋). During the Spring and Autumn period (春秋时), they were called Di (翟). At the end of the 6th century BCE, the state of Jin destroyed the state of Di, and its descendants adopted the state’s name as their surname.
Originated from the Qi (祁) surname
One branch of the Di (翟) surname originated from the Qi (祁) surname, a descendant line of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) Xuanyuan (黄帝轩辕氏). In antiquity, the northern Di (翟) people established the state of Di, which was destroyed by the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period; descendants adopted the state’s name as their clan name. Due to warfare-induced southward and northward migrations and regional dialectal differences, the pronunciation of the surname diverged into Dí and Zhái.
Originated from the Ji (姬) surname
During the Zhou Dynasty, King Cheng of Zhou (Zhou Chengwang) enfeoffed his second son in the Di (翟) region (present-day Lushan County, Henan Province), and his descendants adopted the name of their fiefdom as their surname, forming the Di (翟) surname.
Surname change from Zhang (张)
Some Di (翟) families in Jingxian County, Anhui Province, originally bore the Zhang (张) surname before changing to Di (翟).
Adoption and succession from the Men (门) surname
In Dongyang’an Village, Shunping County, Hebei Province, a Di (翟) lineage had no male heirs; a male heir from the Men (门) surname was adopted to continue the lineage, and their hall name is Jingmen Tang (敬门堂).
Originated from the Dingling (丁零) tribe
The Di (翟) surname also has origins among the ancient Dingling (丁零) tribe (also known as Chile or Tiele), which submitted to the Xiongnu under Modu Chanyu (冒顿单于).
Commanderies of origin (junwang)
- Nanyang Commandery (南阳郡)
Hall names (tanghao)
- Jingmen Tang (敬门堂)