Foreign Clans In Korean

Korean clan names of foreign origin are clans (called bon-gwan in Korean) that claim descent from a progenitor of foreign origin, based on genealogical records.

Authenticity

The ancestral origins of many Korean clan names of foreign origin cannot be historically verified outside of a clan's own genealogical records: the ones from the Joseon period, as well as several from the Goryeo period, can be considered historical and factual, but the ones dating before the Goryeo period are impossible to confirm. The adoption of clan names and progenitors of Chinese origin was rare during the Three Kingdoms and Later Silla periods, but increased during the Goryeo period, despite clans not having actual historical connections to China, due to admiration and emulation of Chinese culture. There were some Korean clans that had an actual progenitor of Chinese origin, but many others made ancestral connections to China without any historical basis; most Korean clans that claim descent from Jizi, the Han dynasty, or immigrants from China during the Three Kingdoms or Later Silla periods are not supported by historical records and were founded mostly by Goryeo people. This phenomenon of linking clans to a progenitor of Chinese origin without any historical basis continued into the Joseon period. Korean clans originating from the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties that immigrated during the Goryeo period have ample details to support a Chinese origin, unlike pre-Goryeo clans.

In South Korea, there are a total of 286 Korean family names, roughly half of which are of foreign origin (mostly Chinese), and 4,179 clan names (bon-gwan). Out of the 286 Korean family names, the top 10 account for 64.1 percent of the population of South Korea: of those 10, three lay claim to a progenitor of Chinese origin, and account for 5.8 percent of the population. However, according to Jin Guanlin, the ancestral origins of those three family names of Chinese origin are "nearly impossible" to verify. Although many Korean clans claim to be of Chinese origin, the number of legitimately foreign Korean clans (i.e. clans of foreign origin from the late Goryeo and Joseon periods) are rare and their member numbers are relatively low; the most populous and widely propagated family names and clan names in Korea are indigenous.

Criticism

According to historian Han Hong-koo of Sungkonghoe University, "About 40 to 50 percent of Korean family names are probably 'naturalized family names', but to say that there are actually that many naturalized families is not true. The book that contains the most lies is probably the ''jokbo'' (genealogy book)." Han continues that 100 years ago, only 15 to 20 percent of Koreans were registered in genealogy books, but today genealogy books have become completely ubiquitous.

Immigration

According to Jin Guanlin, "It can be said that from the end of the Chinese Warring States period to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, many Chinese moved to Manchuria and the Korean peninsula, blended among the indigenous people, and over time forgot about their Chinese origins." Many scholars came from China during the Western and Eastern Jin, Northern and Southern dynasties, Sui, and Tang periods. Large-scale immigration from China diminished greatly during the Later Silla period, but resumed during the Goryeo period by people escaping turmoil in China. Many northern Chinese fled to Korea during the transition period between Yuan and Ming. There was little immigration from China during the first half of the Joseon period, but many Han Chinese settled in Korea during the Imjin War as well as during the fall of Ming. Many scholars came from the Ming to escape the Qing during the 17th century.

According to Park Cheol-hee of Gyeongin National University of Education, 238,000 immigrants naturalized during the Goryeo period. Among them, many naturalized Han Chinese became bureaucrats thanks to their knowledge in international affairs and literature, and naturalized Balhae people made great achievements during the Goryeo–Khitan War against the Liao dynasty. Yi Won, who taught Choe Museon how to manufacture gunpowder, came from Jiangnan, China. Naturalized Jurchens of the Goryeo period reported on the state of the North, constructed fortresses, and some attained high government positions through military achievements, such as Go Yeol. Yi Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon dynasty, was born in the northeast region and supported by the Jurchens of the region, such as Yi Ji-ran, who contributed to the founding of Joseon and played an important role in improving relations between Joseon and Jurchens of the Northeast.

Approximately 18 clans were founded by people of various ethnicities from the Yuan dynasty accompanying Mongol princesses who came to Goryeo to marry Korean kings. Many Jurchens and Manchus immigrated to Korea and established clans, according to Goryeo and Joseon records, but in modern times only one clan continues to claim Jurchen ancestry. Records from the History of Goryeo and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty reveal that Japanese immigrants became naturalized in 999, 1012, 1039, 1425, 1426, and 1435; they were bestowed Korean clan names, but most of them have been lost.

China

* Andong Jang clan
* Anum Seomun clan
* Aphae Jeong clan
* Bonghwa Geum clan
* Boseong Seon clan
* Cheongju Yang clan
* Chogye Byeon clan
* Chogye Joo clan
* Chungju Choe clan
* Chungju Ji clan
* Chungju Mae clan
* Chungju Yoo clan
* Dalseong Bin clan
* Dalseong Ha clan
* Damyang Guk clan
* Danyang U clan
* Deoksan Hwang clan
* Gaeseong Ro clan
* Gangeum Dan clan
* Ganghwa Man clan
* Ganghwa Noh clan
* Ganghwa Wi clan
* Gangneung Yoo clan
* Geochang Shin clan
* Geochang Yoo clan
* Geoje Ban clan
* Geumseong Beom clan
* Goksan Yeon clan
* Goseong Lee clan
* Gwangdong Jin clan
* Gyeongju Ping clan
* Gyeongju Seop clan
* Haeju Oh clan
* Haeju Seok clan
* Haengju Eun clan
* Haengju Ki clan
* Haepyeong Gil clan
* Haman Jo clan
* Hamjong Eo clan
* Hampyeong Mo clan
* Hamyang Yeo clan
* Hamyeol Namgung clan
* Hangju Hwang clan
* Hanam Jeong clan
* Hoesan Gam clan
* Hoideok Hwang clan
* Hwangju Hwangbo clan
* Hyeonpung Gwak clan
* Hyoryong Sagong clan
* Icheon Seo clan
* Iljik Son clan
* Imgu Pung clan
* Jaeahn Hwang clan
* Jangheung Ma clan
* Jangheung Wi clan
* Jangsu Hwang clan
* Jeju Cho clan
* Jeolgang Jang clan
* Jeolgang Pyeon clan
* Jeolgang Seo clan
* Jeolgang Si clan
* Jeonju Chu clan
* Jenam Wang clan
* Jindo Kim clan
* Jinju Hyong clan
* Juksan Ahn clan
* Juksan Eum clan
* Kaesong Pang clan
* Gwangcheon Dong clan
* Nangya Jeong clan
* Miryang No clan
* Miryang Dang clan
* Mokcheon Ma clan
* Mungyeong Jeon clan
* Musong Yu clan
* Naju Na clan
* Namwon Dokgo clan
* Namyang Bang clan
* Namyang Hong clan
* Namyang Seo clan
* Okcheon Yuk clan
* Onyang Bang clan
* Paju Yeom clan
* Pareung Cho clan
* Pareung Ho clan
* Pungcheon Im clan
* Punggi Jin clan
* Pyeonghae Gu clan
* Pyeonghae Hwang clan
* Pyeongtaek Im clan
* Gokbu Gong clan
* Sangju Hwang clan
* Sangju Joo clan
* Sangsan Lee clan
* Seochok Myeong clan
* Seongju Hwang clan
* Seosan Jeong clan
* Sanggok Ma clan
* Sinan Joo clan
* Sinchang Maeng clan
* Sincheon Kang clan
* Sinpyong Ho clan
* Suan Gye clan
* Suwon Baek clan
* Soju Ga clan
* Taean Lee clan
* Taein Gyeong clan
* Taewon Jang clan
* Taewon Gim clan, Taewon Kim clan
* Taewon Yi clan, Taewon Lee clan
* Taewon Sunwoo clan
* Tosan Gung clan
* Dureung Du clan
* Uiheung Ye clan
* Uiryeong Nam clan
* Uiryeong Ok clan
* Wonju Byeon clan
* Wonju Won clan
* Yangju Nang clan
* Yangsan Jin clan
* Yeoheung Min clan
* Yeonan Lee clan
* Yeonan Myeong clan
* Yeongcheon Hwangbo clan
* Yeongwol Eom clan
* Yeongyang Cheon clan
* Yeongyang Nam clan
* Yeoyang Jin clan
* Namyang Gal clan
* Yonggung Gok clan
* Gimpo Gong clan
* Yeongyang Gim clan
* Goksan No clan
* Jangyeon No clan
* Gyoha No clan
* Hampyeong No clan
* Angang No clan
* Gwangju No clan
* Andong No clan
* Yeonil No clan
* Pungcheon No clan
* Yeongsan Shin clan
* Suncheon Do clan
* Seongju Do clan
* Jinju Dongbang clan
* Cheongju Dongbang clan
* Gwangnyeong Muk clan
* Gwangju Mo clan
* Yodong Muk clan
* Taewon Bang clan
* Muan Bang clan
* Jangyeon Byeon clan
* Hwangju Byeon clan
* Cheongju Sa clan
* Chungju Seok clan
* Pyeongsan So clan
* Jinju So clan
* Namyang Song clan
* Seosan Song clan
* Yeosan Song clan
* Eunjin Song clan
* Indong Jang clan
* Gwangsan No clan
* Yonggang Paeng clan
* Muncheon Gong clan
* Hongsan Sun clan
* Namwon Seung clan
* Pungsan Sim clan
* Gu Juksan An clan
* Taewon An clan
* Tongju Yang clan
* Gyeongheung Eo clan
* Uiryeong Yeo clan
* Hwiju Yo clan
* Musong Yun clan
* Haeju Yun clan
* Gyeongju Yun clan
* Goesan Eum clan
* Pyeongsan Lee clan
* Gyodong In clan
* Jangheung Im clan
* Yoyang Ja clan
* Asan Jang clan
* Chirwon Je clan
* Namyang Jegal clan
* Baecheon Jo clan
* Imcheon Jo clan
* Yeongam Jong clan
* Jeju Jwa clan
* Gwangsan Tak clan
* Goksan Han clan
* Goesan Pi clan
* Hongcheon Pi clan
* Danyang Pi clan
* Hamyang O clan
* Dongbog O clan
* Boseong O clan
* Gunwi O clan
* Gochang O clan
* Naju O clan
* Nagan O clan
* Jangheung O clan
* Goseong Nam clan
* Hwasun O clan
* Pyeonghae O clan
* Hampyeong O clan
* Ulsan O clan
* Heungyang O clan
* Yeonil O clan
* Yeongwon O clan

Uyghur

* Gyeongju Sol clan
* Imcheon Lee clan
* Deoksu Jang clan

Jurchen

* Cheonghae Lee clan

Vietnam

* Hwasan Lee clan
* Jeongseon Lee clan

Mongolia

* Yonan In clan

Arab

* Deoksu Jang clan

Japan

* Urok Kim clan
* Hambak Kim clan
* Mangjeol
* Hwangmok
* Hwasun Song clan
* Songjin Jeup clan
* Goesan Jeom clan

India

* Incheon Lee clan
* Gimhae Heo clan
* Taein Heo clan
* Hayang Heo clan
* Yangcheon Heo clan

Netherlands

* Byeongyeong Nam clan

United States

* Seoul Kang clan
* Yeongdo Ha clan

Russia

* Guri Shin clan

Notes

References

*

External links

* {{Cite book, title=Doosan Encyclopedia 외래귀화성씨 外來歸化姓氏, publisher=Doosan Encyclopedia, url=http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=1129680&cid=40942&categoryId=31639&mobile

Korean-language surnames
Korean clans