Origin
Ai : 1: Japanese: usually written 阿井 with characters used phonetically. The meaning could be ‘meeting’. In North America it may also be a shortened form of some other name.2: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 艾 referring to ‘Chinese mugwort’ a type of plant used in traditional Chinese medical treatment: (i) perhaps from the second element of Ru Ai (汝艾) the name of an official who lived during the reign of Shao Kang the 6th king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) from the first element of the placename Ai Ling (艾陵) the name of a hill (located in Shandong province) the fief of Ai Kong (艾孔) an official in the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from the placename Ai (艾) the name of a fief (located in Jiangxi province) which was granted to an official in the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iv) adopted as a surname by the Qu Jin (去斤) Qu Ai (去艾) and Ai Jin (艾斤) families from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). (v) from Ai (艾) the name of an ancient state (possibly in present-day Jiangxi province) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC).3: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 愛 meaning ‘love’ in Chinese: (i) said to be traced back to Ai Xie Wu (愛邪勿) prime minister of the state of Huihu (known as Uyghur Empire or Uyghur Khaganate) who was endowed with the surname Ai (愛) by Emperor Wuzong of Tang (814–846 AD). (ii) a Han Chinese surname for some members of the Aisin Gioro family from the Manchu ethnic group known as the royal family of the Qing dynasty (1616 – 1911 AD). (iii) a surname from minority ethnic groups in Taiwan.
Allee : 1: English: variant of Alley.2: Altered form of French D'Ailly or Dailly. Compare Alley 3 and Alyea.3: Muslim (Pakistan): rare variant of Alli (see Ali).
Alyea : Americanized form of French D'Ailly or Dailly. Compare Allee 2 and Elyea.
Ayala : Basque: Castilianized form of Aiala habitational or topographic name from ai ‘slope hillside’ + al(h)a ‘pasture’.
Aybar : Basque: Castilianized form of Aibar a habitational name from Aibar in Navarre or perhaps in some cases from Eibar a place in Gipuzkoa province Basque Country (Spain). The placenames are from Basque ai ‘side slope’ + ibar ‘meadow riverbank valley’.
Daigle : 1: Altered form of French Daigre. Compare Deagle.2: French: habitational name with fused preposition d(e) ‘from’ for someone from L'Aigle in Orne.3: Altered form of an unidentified German surname most probably Deim or Deym which are related to Daum. The surname Deim is more common in Austria than in Germany while the surname Deym is very rare in both Germany and Austria.4: At least in some cases also an altered form of South German Daigl or Daigel: metonymic occupational name for a baker from Middle High German teic taig ‘dough’. The surnames Daigl and Daigel are very rare in Germany.
Delaine : 1: Altered form of English Delane which is in part a cognate of 2 below.3: French (Delainé): from the nickname l'aîné ‘the oldest’ denoting the firstborn son of a family.2: French: habitational name with fused preposition de ‘from’ denoting someone from Laines-aux-Bois (Aube) or someone who lived on the bank of the Aisne river.
Guo : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 郭 meaning ‘rampart’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from Guo (虢 also written as 郭 in ancient Chinese) the name of two ancient states during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). One was called Eastern Guo (东郭) (located in Henan province). It was granted to Guo Zhong brother of King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC) and annexed by the state of Zheng in 765 BC. The other was called Western Guo (西郭) (originally located in Shaanxi province) and was granted to Guo Shu another brother of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou. During the reign of King Ping of Zhou (died 720 BC) the Western Guo was moved to present-day Henan and Shanxi provinces and eventually annexed by the state of Jin in 655 BC. The original place of the Western Guo was also annexed by the state of Qin in 687 BC. After the annihilation of these states Guo (郭) was adopted as a surname. (ii) from Guo (郭) the name of another ancient state (located in Liaocheng in Shandong province) during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). After it was annexed by the state of Cao during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) the name of the state was adopted as a surname. (iii) adopted as a surname by residents who lived outside a city because Guo (郭) means ‘rampart outer wall of a city’ in ancient Chinese.2: Mandarin form of the surname 國 meaning ‘state’ or ‘country’ in Chinese: (i) said to be borne by descendants of Guo Ai (國哀) who is believed to have been a teacher of Xia Yu the first king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (ii) borne by descendants of certain nobles in the state of Qi who lived during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iii) from the second element of the personal name Zi Guo (子國) style name of Fa a prince in the state of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (iv) said to be a major surname in Bai Ji(ancient Korea).3: Mandarin form of the surname 過 meaning ‘pass’ in Chinese: from Guo (過) the name of an ancient state (located in Yexian in present-day Shandong province) during the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). After its king Jiao was killed the name of the state was adopted by some as a surname.4: Mandarin form of the surname 果 meaning ‘fruit’ in Chinese: (i)possibly borne by descendants of the state of Ba Zi (located in Ba County in Chongqing) during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). (ii) a surname from the Manchu ethnic group in northern China.
Han : 1: Chinese: Mandarin pronunciation of the surname 韓: (i) it is said that the surname is borne by descendants of Han Liu (韓流) a grandson of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). (ii) shortened form of Han Yuan (韓原) the name of a fief (possibly present-day Hejin in Shanxi province or Hancheng in Shaanxi province) granted to Bi Wan also known as Han Wan (韓萬) or Han Wuzi (韓武子) a politician in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC). His descendants inherited the name of the fief as their surname. (iii) from Han (韓) the name of a state during the Warring States Period (475–221 BC). The state was established in 403 BC and annexed by the state of Qin in 230 BC. Descendants of nobles from this state inherited it as their surname. (iv) From the Chu Da Han (出大汗) family of the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China who adopted the surname Han (韓) during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534 AD).2: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 寒 meaning ‘cold’ in Chinese: (i) said to be traced back to Han Ai (寒哀) the name of an official during the reign of the legendary emperor Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). (ii) from Han (寒) the name of an ancient state (located in Shandong province) during the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (iii) adopted in place of the homophonous Chinese surname Han (韓) by some people who changed their original surname Han (韓) to Han (寒) in order to avoid feud.3: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 杭 see Hang 1.4: Korean: written 한 in Chinese characters 韓. There are actually two Chinese characters for the surname Han. However one of these characters meaning ‘China’ is very rare (only two households with this surname appeared in a recent census) so only the other will be considered here. Some records indicate that there are 131 clans of the Han family but only one – the Han family of Ch’ŏngju can be documented. Some sources name Han Ran as the founding ancestor of the Han family. Han Ran is recognized as one of the men who assisted the first Koryŏ king Wang Kŏn in setting up the Koryŏ kingdom in 918. More recent scholarship however postulates that the Ch’ŏngju Han clan's founding ancestor was U-P’yŏng one of three sons of the fortieth generation descendant of Kija the founder of the ancient Chosŏn kingdom (died 194 BC). The other two sons U-sŏng and U-Kyŏng founded the Ki clan and the Sŏngan clans respectively. Compare Hahn 5.5: Vietnamese (Hàn): from the Chinese surname 韓 see 1 above.6: Vietnamese (Hán): written 汉 in Chinese of unexplained etymology.7: Burmese: from a personal name usually forming part of a compound name from han ‘appearance’. — Note: Since Burmese do not have hereditary surnames this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US.8: Turkish: ornamental name or nickname from the title han ‘sovereign khan’ (see Khan).9: Dutch: from a short form of the personal name Johan(nes) (see John).10: French (Lorraine): probably a cognate of Dutch name in 9 above.11: Czech and Slovak (Hán): from a short form of the German personal name Johann(es) (see John).12: Jewish: variant of Hahn.
Hou : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 侯 a title approximately equivalent to ‘marquis’: (i) borne by descendants of Jin Ai Hou (晉哀侯 Marquis Ai of Jin ruler of the state of Jin reigned 717–709 BC) and Jin Min Hou (晉湣侯 Marquis Min of Jin another ruler of the state of Jin died 679 BC) both of whom were killed by Duke Wu of Jin (also known as Duke Wu of Quwo 754–677 BC) who later became a new ruler of the state of Jin. Their descendants fled to other states and adopted the name of the peerage rank as their surname. (ii) from the placename Hou (侯) the name of a fief (located in present-day Shaanxi province) granted to descendants of Xia Yu the first king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC). (iii) from Hou (侯) the name of an ancient state (located in Henan province) during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (iv) borne by descendants of Hou Xuan Duo (侯宣多) and Hou Yu (侯羽) officials in the state of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC). (v) adopted as a surname by families from minority ethnic groups in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD) including the families of Hu Gu Kou Yin (胡古口引) Hou Nu (侯奴) Ke Hou (渴侯) Gu Yin (古引) and Si Fu Hou (俟伏侯).2: Mandarin form of the surname 后 meaning ‘empress queen’ in Chinese: (i) from the first element of the title Hou Tu (后土) borne by Gou Long an official in charge of lands during the reign of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). (ii) simplified form of the placename Hou (郈 also written as 厚) the name of a fief (located in present-day Shandong province) granted to Gong son of the Duke Xiao of Lu (ruler of the state of Lu died 769 BC). (iii) borne by descendants of Hou Zang (后臧) younger brother of Ye Gong (Duke of Ye c. 550–470 BC) a noble in the state of Chu. (iv) borne by descendants of Yin an official historiographer in the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) who was endowed with the surname Hou (后 meaning ‘wife of the king’) because Yin's daughter became the wife of King Xiang of Qi (ruler of the state of Qi died in 265 BC).3: Mandarin form of the surname 後 meaning ‘back’ in Chinese: said to be borne by descendants of Hou Zhao (後照) a grandson of the legendary king Tai Hao who lived even before the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC).4: Mandarin form of the surname 厚 meaning ‘thick’ in Chinese: from Hou (厚) the name of a fief (located in present-day Jiangsu province) in the state of Lu granted to Hou Ji (厚瘠) also known as Hou Cheng Shu (厚成叔) an official in the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).5: variant Romanization of the surname 霍 see Huo 1.6: variant Romanization of the surname 緱 see Gou 3.
Laine : 1: French and West Indian (mainly Haiti) (Laîné): distinguishing epithet from French l'aîné ‘the eldest (son)’ used to identify the older of two bearers of the same name in a family.2: Altered form (Laîné) of French Lesné which is a cognate of 1 above or perhaps a nickname for a shoemaker from a shortened form of Old French alesne ‘awl’. Compare Laney 3.3: French: metonymic occupational name for a worker or dealer in wool from laine ‘wool’ (from Latin lana). Compare Lane 7.4: Finnish: ornamental name from laine ‘wave’. It was adopted in huge numbers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries mainly in southern and southwestern Finland at first to replace Swedish surnames and later on some less well-liked Finnish surnames. It is the prototype of the fashionable nature-related surnames that lack the surname suffix -nen overtaking in popularity the type Virtanen on which they are modelled.5: Irish (northern): shortened form of Scottish McLean.6: English: variant of Lane.
Legue : 1: Altered form of French Laiguille: habitational name from L'Aiguille a place in Pas-de-Calais. The surname Laiguille is virtually non-existing in France.2: In some cases probably also French (Legué): topographic name with fused masculine definite article le for someone who lived by a ford gué (see Gue 2).
Lisney : possibly from Anglo-Norman French l'ainz né ‘the elder eldest’.
McEllin : from Mac Ailein (Irish Mac Ailín or Mac Aileáin) ‘son of Allan’ with the Scottish pronunciation of ai see McAllan.from Mac Ailín ‘son of Ailín’ a diminutive form of Ailill meaning ‘little sprite little elf’ see McCallion.
Ping : 1: Chinese: Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surname 平 meaning ‘flat even’ in Chinese: (i) from Ping (平) the name of a fief (located in Linfen in Shanxi province) granted to Chuo the youngest son of the Marquess Ai of Han (ruler of the state of Han died 374 BC). (ii) from the first element of the personal name Ping Zhong (平仲) style name of Yan Yin an official in the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).2: Chinese: alternative Mandarin and Cantonese form of the surnames 邴 and 兵 see Bing 4 and 5.3: English: variant of Pink.
Zhao : Chinese:: 1: Mandarin form of the surname 趙 originally meaning ‘walk quickly’ in ancient Chinese: (i) from the placename Zhao (趙) (located in present-day Zhaocheng in Shanxi Province) the name of a fief granted by King Mu of Zhou (reigned 976–922 BC) to Zao Fu a famous charioteer during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC). In 403 BC a descendant of Zao Fu Zhao Ji (趙籍) established the state of Zhao (趙). (ii) also borne as a surname by members of certain minority ethnic groups in ancient China. (iii) traced back to Zhao Liang (趙梁) an official during the reign of the King Xia Jie (the last king of the Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC)).2: Mandarin form of the surname 招 meaning ‘beckon gesture’ or ‘attract (bad things)’ in Chinese: (i) from the personal name Zhao (招) style name of the brother of the Duke Ai of Chen (ruler of the state of Chen reigned 568–534 BC) who was exiled to the state of Yue (located in present-day Jiangsu and Zhejiang province) because he assassinated the crown prince Yan Shi son of the Duke Ai of Chen. (ii) from the second element of the personal name Bu Zhao (步招) personal name of a person who lived in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BC).
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
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