Interpretation of the Ke (柯) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

The original meaning of 柯 (Ke) is the handle of an axe. Historically, the Ke was the part grasped to wield the axe for felling trees. Additionally, Ke also refers to a type of ancient vessel used by people for serving and holding rice. Symbolically, it represents the "foundation" or "handle" of a tool—the essential link between the worker and their task.

【Origins】

1. From the Ji (姬) Surname: The early ancestors of the Ke clan, Zhongyong (also known as Yu Zhong), was the second monarch of the State of Wu and the uncle of King Wu of Zhou. The Ke clan shares the same lineage as the Zhou, Wu, and Cai clans, all originating from the royal Ji surname of the Zhou people.

2. The Assembly at Mount Ke: During the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, the King gathered the feudal lords at Mount Ke. An official named Ke Xiang, who served the Zhou court as a Grand Official (Dafu), attended this grand assembly. At that time, the mountain's name was adopted as a designation.

3. Establishment of the Surname: Four generations later, Ke Lu, a descendant of Ke Xiang, officially established Ke as the family surname to commemorate the prestige of his great-grandfather’s participation in the Mount Ke assembly. He honored Ke Xiang as the founding ancestor. Ke Lu and his descendants resided in Jie Xiao Li, Chongde Township, Jiyang Prefecture (present-day Lankao, Henan).

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestors

Ke Xiang (Ke Lu); Duke Xiang of Qi (Jiang Zhuer)

Ancestral Homeland

Lankao, Henan Province

Prefectural Mansions

Jiyang, Qiantang, Qijun

Notable Hall Name

Yique Hall (Hall of the Rare Magpies)

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 145th / Approx. 1,060,000 people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 220th in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

75 volumes currently preserved