nterpretation of the Meng (蒙) Surname Totem

【Meaning】

Meng (蒙) refers to a type of plant, specifically identified as Dodder (also known as Nüluo or Tutu). It is an annual parasitic herbaceous plant. In ancient Chinese symbolism, "Meng" also carries the meaning of "covering" or "hidden," and it is the 4th hexagram of the I Ching, representing "Youthful Folly" or the beginning of enlightenment.

【Origins】

1. From the Gaoyang-shi (Descendants of Zhuanxu): The descendants of the ancient Emperor Zhuanxu (Gaoyang-shi) were enfeoffed in the city of Mengshuang (also known as Shuangmeng City, located in present-day Jiaocheng, Shanxi). Their descendants adopted the city's name as their surname, originally as the compound surnames Mengshuang or Shuangmeng. Over generations, these were simplified into the single-character surnames Meng and Shuang.

2. From the Feng (风) and Bao (包) Surnames: This branch originates from the descendants of Fu Xi (Bao Xi). They were tasked with presiding over the sacrificial rites of Mount Meng (located in present-day Mengshan, Shandong). They established the State of Meng in the Dongyi region and served as the hereditary lords of East Meng. Their descendants adopted the name of the state (or mountain) as their surname.

Historical & Demographic Profile

Category

Details

Founding Ancestor

Meng Shuang

Ancestral Homelands

Mengshan, Shandong; Jiaocheng, Shanxi

Prefectural Mansion (Junwang)

Anding (located in present-day Gansu/Ningxia region)

Notable Hall Name

Xiandian Hall (Hall of Offering Rituals)

Modern Ranking / Population

Ranked 172nd / Approx. 830,000 people

Song Dynasty Ranking

Ranked 250th in the Hundred Family Surnames

Extant Genealogies

5 volumes currently preserved