Interpretation of the Cen (岑) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

The character 岑 (Cen) originally means "mountain." Specifically, it refers to a mountain that is small yet tall and steep.

【Origins】

1. From the Ji (姬) Surname: The lineage originates from Ji Qu, a cousin of King Wu of Zhou during the early Western Zhou Dynasty. It is a surname derived from the name of a state.

2. Historical Context: During the Zhou Dynasty, King Wu (Ji Fa) enfeoffed Ji Yao (the half-brother of King Wen) as the Viscount of Cen (Cen Zi). He also enfeoffed his cousin, Ji Qu, in the territory of Cen (present-day Hancheng, Shaanxi), establishing the State of Cen. Their descendants adopted the name of the state as their surname, a tradition that has continued for over 3,000 years.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestors

Ji Qu, Cen Peng (A famous general of the Eastern Han)

Ancestral Homeland

Hancheng, Shaanxi Province

Prefectural Mansion (Junwang)

Nanyang

Hall Names (Tanghao)

Shengwu Hall, Zhangqing Hall

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 205th / Approx. 520,000 people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Beyond the top 300 in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

8 volumes currently preserved