Chinese surname · rank 283
阿
阿 is read as ā.
ā
Simplified and traditional 阿
prefix for people's names; used in transliteration
Earth
Time: Shang Yiyin Aheng office-title layer, Northern Wei Xiaowen-era Xianbei changed-surname layer, Ming Hongwu 1371 Qinghai A tusi layer, Ryukyu Nan Shan late kingdom layer, Song rare Qinghai distribution layer, Ming Zhejiang-Hebei distribution layer, and later Manchu/Daur/Oroqen and other multiethnic adoption layers; Xia-dynasty tradition, c. 2070-1600 BCE
Place: Shang court Aheng office context; DaiBei and Northern Wei Xianbei contexts; Qinghai Haidong and Hehuang A tusi context; Ryukyu Nan Shan context; Qinghai, Zhejiang, Hebei, Shanghai, Anhui, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Gansu, Xinjiang, Korea, Taiwan, Manchu, Daur, Oroqen, Hui, Mongol, Tu, Tibetan, Yi, Dai, and Lisu contexts
Origin note
A is a rare Han-character surname with multiple readings and multiple origin layers; this page uses for the site entry but notes that some historical lines are also read or otherwise in surname dictionaries. One early source-backed layer is office-name based: Yiyin, the Shang minister under Tang, held the title Aheng, described in surname references as a protective or tutoring office, and collateral descendants could use the first element A as a surname. A second major layer is Northern Wei Xianbei Sinicization: under and around Emperor Xiaowen's reforms, Xianbei surnames such as Afugan, Afu, and Ahe were shortened or changed to A; Wikipedia also notes related forms such as Afuyu/Afugan and that Adan was changed to Shan rather than A. Later layers are separate: the Qinghai Hedong A tusi lineage traces to the Yuan official Shila who submitted to Ming rule in 1371 and whose descendants used A; Ryukyu Chinese-surname records include A Hengji, brother of the last Nan Shan ruler Tarumii; and Manchu, Daur, Oroqen, Hui, Mongol, Tu, Tibetan, Yi, Dai, Lisu, and other groups also used A as a Han-style surname, often from the first syllable of a longer name. The page keeps office-title, Xianbei, tusi, Ryukyu, and later multiethnic adoption layers separate.
Historical figures
Historical figures to enrich
This surname page is ready for a fame-ranked figure list. Later passes can add generals, poets, rulers, artists, scholars and modern public figures with source links.