The surname Sun is the 12th most common family name in contemporary China. According to the historic record, the origin of the surname Sun can be traced back to Emperor Wen of the Zhou Dynasty, dating back more than 3,000 years.

The origin of the surname Sun is generally believed to have three sources. One story is that the grandson of Huisun, offspring of Emperor Wen, adopted the surname Sun to commemorate his grandfather. Another story is that the surname Sun originated from a later generation of Sun Shu'ao. The last and most important story is that surname Sun stems from the descendants of Tian Wan. When Tian escaped to the state of Qi from the state of Chen, Emperer Huan of the state of Qi was about to designate him as minister for his noble mind. However, Tian did not seek fame and personal gain, and only asked for a petty post that took charge of all sorts of workmen. The descendants of Tian distinguished themselves many times in battles, and Emperor Jin of the state of Qin conferred the surname Sun to them. Of all the three sources mentioned above, the last one is the most popular now.

Since the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period), people with the surname Sun have had several large-scale migrations from north to south and even the trans-sea-area and trans-state migrations.

The historic record shows that Sun Linfu and his son Sun Jia, a later generation of Wei Kangshu, were defeated by Nin Xi, their political opponent. Later Sun and his son moved separately to Weihui in central China's Henan province, forming the first separate move of the Sun family. From then on, descendants of the Sun family moved southward in the late Eastern Zhou Dynasty twice. At the end of Ming Dynasty and the beginning of Qin Dynasty, many coastal residences went to Taiwan Island to make a living. Among the total fortune-seekers, people with the surname Sun were in the majority.

By People's Daily Online