Interpretation of the Xiong (熊) Clan Totem

Definition of the Character: "熊" (Xiong) refers to a bear, a powerful wild beast.

Origin: 1. The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) originally held the surname Gongsun but later changed it to Ji due to his long residence by the Ji River. Because he lived at the Hill of Xuanyuan (modern-day Xinzheng, Henan), he was titled Xuanyuan Shi. His state was located at Youxiong (also in modern Xinzheng), leading to his title Youxiong Shi (The Clan of Having Bears). A branch of his descendants adopted the state name "Youxiong" as their surname, forming the Xiong clan. 2. Yu Xiong, a descendant of Jilian (the sixth son of the legendary Lu Zhong), served as a mentor to King Wen of Zhou (Ji Chang) during the late Shang Dynasty. His descendants adopted his name as their surname. During the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, Yu Xiong's great-grandson, Xiong Yi, was enfeoffed in the State of Chu as the descendant of a meritorious official. He resided in Danyang (southeast of modern-day Zigui, Hubei). From then on, the rulers of Chu used "Xiong" as their hereditary surname prefix.

• Ancestral Founder: Yu Xiong

• Ancestral Homeland: Xinzheng, Henan Province

• Prefectural Seats and Hall Names: Jiangling, Nanchang, Zigui; Sheshi Hall

• Current Rank / Population: 72nd most common / Approx. 3.84 million

• Song Dynasty "Hundred Family Surnames" Rank: 121st

• Extant Genealogies: 156 volumes