Bai Jia Xing compound surname #44
拓跋
拓跋 is read as Tuòbá. It is one of the 60 compound surnames in the expanded Bai Jia Xing sequence.
Pinyin
Tuòbá
Script forms
Simplified and traditional 拓跋
Meaning
Xianbei royal clan name of the Northern Wei ruling house
Five element
Earth
Origin
Time: Xianbei to Northern Wei, c. 3rd century-534 CE
Place: Tuoba Xianbei northern steppe and Northern Wei court
Origin
拓跋 was the central clan name of the Tuoba Xianbei, whose leaders founded Northern Wei. Emperor Xiaowen later changed the imperial surname to Yuan during sinicizing reforms.
Name meaning
The name evokes steppe rulership, clan federation, and Northern Wei history.
Historical figures
拓跋珪 Tuoba Gui
Tuoba Gui founded Northern Wei.
拓跋宏 Tuoba Hong
Tuoba Hong, Emperor Xiaowen, led major sinicizing reforms.