Chinese surname · rank 17

何

何 is read as hé.

Pinyin

hé

Script forms

Simplified and traditional 何

Basic meaning

what; why; which

Five element

Earth

Origin

Time: After Qin destroyed Han in 230 BCE; about 2,200 years ago

Place: Han-state descendants dispersing into the Jianghuai region, around today's Anhui and Jiangsu

Origin note

A widely cited He tradition says the surname separated from Han. After Qin destroyed the state of Han, some Han descendants scattered into the Jianghuai region. Surname texts such as Yuanhe Xingzuan are cited for the explanation that local Jianghuai pronunciation made Han sound like He, so descendants used He as the surname. Other He origins and later ethnic or granted-name branches exist, so this page keeps the Han-to-He layer as the main verified cultural origin.

Historical figures

何晏 (He Yan)

died 249 CE · Cao Wei philosopher and official

A well-known early xuanxue figure and commentator in the Three Kingdoms period.

何香凝 (He Xiangning)

1878-1972 CE · artist and revolutionary figure

A modern public figure remembered for painting, politics and work connected with the early Republic and later China.

Sources checked

Han Dian: 何 - basic character meaning and surname listing
China News: He and Han shared surname-origin tradition - He surname connection with Han surname tradition
He surname source summary citing Yuanhe Xingzuan - Han-to-He sound-change tradition in Jianghuai after Qin destroyed Han

何 🔊

Origin note

Historical figures

何晏 (He Yan)

何香凝 (He Xiangning)

Sources checked

何