Bai Jia Xing compound surname #5

夏侯

夏侯 is read as Xiàhóu. It is one of the 60 compound surnames in the expanded Bai Jia Xing sequence.

Pinyin

Xiàhóu

Script forms

Simplified and traditional 夏侯

Meaning

Xia marquis; a noble-descendant surname tied to Xia/Yu memory

Five element

Fire

Origin

Time: Spring and Autumn period, 770-476 BCE

Place: Qi, Chu, and Lu lineage tradition

Origin

夏侯 is traditionally linked to descendants of Yu the Great through the state of Qi. After Qi was destroyed by Chu, a descendant was recognized in Lu as a Xia-line marquis, and descendants used Xiahou as the surname.

Name meaning

The name combines ancient Xia descent with noble status. Three Kingdoms generals Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan give it a strong military flavor.

Historical figures

夏侯惇 Xiahou Dun

Xiahou Dun was a Cao Wei general remembered through Three Kingdoms history and fiction.

Reference: 夏侯惇 Xiahou Dun

夏侯惇

Xiahou Dun was a Cao Wei general remembered through Three Kingdoms history and fiction, giving Xiahou a martial ancient-war flavor.

Reference: 夏侯惇