Surname Xiong - Meaning and Origin
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Redefining Identity: A Journey into the Past Through the iGENEA DNA Test Results
The intriguing dynamics of my lineage as indicated by the iGENEA DNA test were unexpected. It revealed a fascinating blend of East Asian and Caucasus ancestry, influencing my understanding of my surname Xiong and expanding my perception of our family identity.
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read moreXiong: What does the surname Xiong mean?
The last name Xiong is a Chinese surname and is derived from the word “Xiongnu”, which is a Chinese term for “barbarian”. It is also believed that the name Xiong could be derived from the ancient state of Xiongnu in Mongolia. Historically, the Xiongnu were believed to be a group of nomadic tribes from Eurasia and parts of Central Asia, living in the steppes and on the Eastern side of China.
Xiong was adopted as a surname during the Han Dynasty, approximately 2,100 years ago. It has gained social importance due to a number of prominent figures in ancient China, who bore this name. Xiong is among the most common Chinese surnames in the world, and it’s also widely distributed in countries where the Chinese diaspora has spread; in particular, in Southeast Asia, South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
The meaning of Xiong is “hero”, “strong”, “grand”, or “glorious”. This surname is meant to symbolize strength and courage, and is commonly given to those who have achieved great things or had successful military accomplishments.
Xiong is an important Chinese surname that has a long and interesting history. It brings with it a sense of pride and nobility, and reflects a person’s dedication to be strong and courageous. The character Xiong symbolizes power, strength, and ambition, and is an important reminder of Chinese heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisXiong: Where does the name Xiong come from?
The surname Xiong is most commonly found in southern China, in the provinces of Hubei, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian. It is also widespread, though less so, in the northern provinces of Shaanxi and Shandong.
Xiong is the 28th most common family name in Mainland China, with over 5.7 million people bearing the surname. In Taiwan, where it is spelled with a different Chinese character, it is the 5th most common name, with approximately 900,000 people having the surname.
The surname has traditionally been associated with the states of Chu and Wu in the ancient Chinese dynasty of Zhou. During the Qin dynasty, the Xiong family was part of the nobility. During the Song dynasty, a famous general, Xiong Wen Guang, played an important role in expanding the eastern boundaries of the Song Empire.
In the present day, many descendants of the Xiong family have migrated out of mainland China and can be found across the world. North America has a particularly large number of individuals with this surname, with over 101,000 listed in the United States and over 30,000 in Canada. Other countries with significant Xiong populations include Australia (27,000 people), Germany (11,000), Brazil (15,000) and New Zealand (7,000). Xiong is also a name shared by certain ethnic minority groups in Southeastern Asia like the Hmong.
Variations of the surname Xiong
Xiong (pronounced ‘she-ohng’) is a Chinese surname that originates from the Zhou dynasty and is among the most common surnames in the Chinese-speaking world.
Variant spellings of Xiong include the dialectical forms of Xiang 响, Xiong 雄, and Hong 鸿. Other variants include Shiang, Shiong, Siun, Hang, and Hung.
Derivative surnames from the ancestral Xiong surname include: Hiong, Xaaiv, Xang, Xoang, Xyong, Shionga, Shiung, Sioug, Shiang, Hiang, Hyong, Hing, and Houn.
The surname also has some specific regional variants. In Hokkien and Teochew dialects, Xiong is pronounced as ‘Hiong’ and surnames such as Heng and Ho are believed to be derived from it. In Cantonese, Xiong is referred to as ‘Cheung’ and other names include Cheang, Cheong, and Cheng.
In addition, the surname is also found in the form of Ying, which is pronounced ‘ee-ing’ in Mandarin, and is a derivative of the Chinese word for eagle.
The Xiong surname can also be found in the Philippines, where it is spelled Syong and Seon. The Philippine dialect reflects input from Hokkien and Fujian, whereby Xiong was transformed into Seon and Syong.
There is also the south-east Asian surname Chiong, which is believed to be a variant of the Xiong surname. It is also found in Malaysia, early Chinese settlers to the country having shortened the name to Chiong.
Famous people with the name Xiong
- Xiong Mao: A popular Chinese actor, singer and presenter.
- Xiong Jingnan: A World Champion MMA fighter.
- Xiong Dan: A Chinese singer and member of the Artistic Vocal Group.
- Xiong Ziyi: An award-winning Chinese actress and singer.
- Xiong Guangkai: Former Vice Minister of Defense from the People’s Republic of China.
- Xiong Wenyi: Antique connoisseur and former calligrapher for the Beijing Art Museum.
- Xiong Li: A famous Chinese pianist and singer.
- Xiong Yu: A professional Chinese badminton player who has won multiple championships.
- Xiong Quingqing: A renowned Chinese author and poet.
- Xiong Shaohui: A popular Chinese calligrapher and painter.