Ben (surname) explained
| S: | 贲 |
| P: | Bēn |
| W: | Pên1 |
| J: | Ban1 |
| Mc: | pronounced as //bʉi// |
| Poj: | Hûn |
Ben (trad. 賁, simp. 贲) is a Chinese surname meaning "bright, energetic".[1] [2] It is romanized Pên in Wade–Giles, or Ban in Cantonese romanization. According to a 2013 study, it was not one of the top 400 surnames in modern China.[3] It is the 179th name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem.[4]
Origins
Several origins are claimed for the surname:
- from Xian Ben Fu (縣賁父) a carriage driver during the reign of Duke Zhuang of Lu (706–662 BC)
- from Hu Ben (虎賁), an official post in charge of guarding the king or the royal palace
- from the Ben Hun (賁渾), a minority ethnic group in ancient western China[5]
Notable people
- Fan Ben (died 349), Chinese politician and emperor
- Sun Ben (190s–200s), Chinese general
- Wang Ben (220s BCE), Chinese general
Notes and References
- Book: 汉英词典. December 29, 1995. 外语教学与研究出版社. 9787560007397 . Google Books.
- Web site: My China Roots. www.mychinaroots.com.
- [Yuan Yida]
- K. S. Tom. [1989] (1989). Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends and Lore of the Middle Kingdom. University of Hawaii Press. .
- Web site: Ben Name Meaning & Ben Family History at Ancestry.com®. www.ancestry.com.
