Chinese surname · rank 278
寇
寇 is read as kòu.
kòu
Simplified and traditional 寇
bandits, thieves; enemy; invade
Earth
Time: Western Zhou Sikou office layer, Spring-and-Autumn Wei office-line layer, Eastern Han Shanggu Kou Xun lineage layer, Northern Wei Xianbei Gukouyin changed-surname layer, Five Dynasties Daliang military lineage layer, Northern Song Kou Zhun lineage layer, Ming Tangxian/Yuci/Tongguan figure layer, and modern Henan-Shaanxi-Sichuan distribution layer; Xia-dynasty tradition, c. 2070-1600 BCE
Place: Sikou office contexts in Zhou and feudal states; Su/Kunwu tradition; Wei state; Shanggu Changping around today's Beijing Changping; Wuchuan in Inner Mongolia; Fengyi Wannian around Xi'an, Shaanxi; Daliang/Kaifeng, Henan; Huazhou Xiagui around Weinan, Shaanxi; Ruzhou Linru, Henan; Tangxian, Hebei; Yuci, Shanxi; Tongguan/Tongchuan, Shaanxi; Liaodong Wuhuan and Northern Wei Xianbei contexts; Henan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, Gansu, and Liaoning distribution contexts
Origin note
Kou is read ku as a surname. The main source-backed origin is occupational: ancient states used the office title Sikou for officials who handled criminal justice, prisons, and inspection, and descendants of office holders could shorten Sikou to Kou. One Western Zhou line connects the surname with Su Fensheng, a Kunwu-descended or Ji-related figure appointed as Sikou under King Wu of Zhou; descendants used the office title as a surname. Another office-name line is associated with Wei Kangshu and later Wei-state office holders, including traditions that descendants of Wei Linggong's line served as Sikou and shortened Sikou to Kou. Later adoption layers are different and should not be merged with the Zhou office story: Northern Wei Xianbei Gukouyin was Sinicized to Kou, and Liaodong Wuhuan groups also used Kou. The page keeps Sikou office, Su Fensheng, Wei office-line, Xianbei changed-surname, and Wuhuan 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.