Interpretation of the Ouyang (欧阳) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

"Ouyang" is a compound of "Ou" (欧) and "Yang" (阳). "Ou" refers to the Ou people, with the core component of the character being "Qu" (区). The surnames Qu (区), Ou (欧), and Ou (瓯) all share the same ancestral origin. In Chinese geography, "Yang" refers to the sunny side of a mountain (the southern slope) or the northern bank of a river. Therefore, Ouyang literally means "the southern side of Mount Ou."

【Origins】

1. From the Si (姒) Surname: The lineage traces back to Wuyu, the son of the Xia Dynasty monarch Shao Kang. Wuyu was enfeoffed in Kuaiji, where he established the State of Yue as a vassal state.

2. The Fall and Rise of Yue: During the Spring and Autumn period, Yue was temporarily conquered by the State of Wu, but was restored nineteen years later by the famous King Goujian.

3. The Formation of the Surname: Six generations after Goujian, the State of Yue was finally annexed by the State of Chu during the reign of King Wujiang.

   • Wujiang's second son, Ti, was enfeoffed in the area south of Mount Ouyu (in present-day Wucheng).

   • As the south side of a mountain is called Yang, he was titled the Marquis of Ouyang Pavilion (Ouyang Ting Hou).

   • His descendants adopted either the mountain's name or the feudal title as their surname, resulting in the three related surnames: Ou, Ouyang, and Ouhou.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestor

Ti (Second son of King Wujiang of Yue)

Ancestral Homeland

Huzhou, Zhejiang Province

Prefectural Mansion

Bohai

Notable Hall Name

Huadi Hall (Hall of Painting in the Reeds)

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 169th / Approx. 910,000 people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 69th in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

155 volumes currently preserved