Shǐ (史) is a Chinese surname meaning "history" of "official historiographer". It is romanized Shih in Wade–Giles, or Sze or Si in Cantonese romanization. According to a 2008 study, it was the 82nd most common name in China. A 2013 study found that it is shared by 2.85 million people, or 0.210% of the population, with the province with the most people being Henan. It is the 63rd name on the ''

Hundred Family Surnames The ''Hundred Family Surnames'' (), commonly known as ''Bai Jia Xing'', also translated as ''Hundreds of Chinese Surnames'', is a classic Chinese text composed of common Chinese surnames. An unknown author compiled the book during the Song dy ...

'' poem.K. S. Tom. 989(1989). Echoes from Old China: Life, Legends and Lore of the Middle Kingdom.

University of Hawaii Press A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

. .

Origins

# It is said to be borne by descendants of

Cang Jie Cangjie () is a legendary ancient Chinese figure said to have been an official historian of the Yellow Emperor and the inventor of Chinese characters. Legend has it that he had four eyes, and that when he invented the characters, the deities an ...

, the official historiographer during the reign of the mythical Huang Di, the ‘Yellow Emperor’The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland # Shi (史), post name of an official in charge of recording historical events during the

Western Zhou dynasty The Western Zhou ( zh, c=, p=Xīzhōu; c. 1045 BC – 771 BC) was a royal dynasty of China and the first half of the Zhou dynasty. It began when King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty at the Battle of Muye and ended when the Quanrong nom ...

. Later, the surname was subsequently adopted as a surname by descendants of official historiographers in many regional states during the

Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

# adopted as a surname by the Sogdians, and became one of the " Nine Sogdian Surnames", also known as ‘nine surnames of Zhaowu’ # adopted as a surname by the

Ashina tribe The Ashina (; Middle Chinese: ( Guangyun) ), were a Turkic speaking tribe and the ruling dynasty of the Göktürks. This clan rose to prominence in the mid-6th century when the leader, Bumin Qaghan, revolted against the Rouran Khaganate. The tw ...

(阿史那), a Turkic tribe during the Tang dynasty # descendants of Shi Ji (史繼), who was bestowed with the surname by

Emperor Suzong of Tang Emperor Suzong of Tang (''yihai'' day, 711 – 16 May 762; r. 756 – 762), personal name Li Heng, né Li Sisheng (), known as Li Jun () from 725 to 736, known as Li Yu () from 736 to 738, known briefly as Li Shao () in 738, was an emperor of t ...

Notable people

Empress Shi (Xin Dynasty) Empress Shi (史皇后, personal name unknown) was an empress during Xin Dynasty. She married emperor Wang Mang, in spring 23 CE, as his Xin Dynasty was crumbling. Despite that, he married her as a public show of confidence. She was the daugh ...

(史皇后), an empress during Xin Dynasty *

Shi Dongpeng Shi Dongpeng (, born January 6, 1984, in Hebei, People's Republic of China) is a Chinese hurdler who specializes in the 110 metre hurdles. Shi won a silver medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, fi ...

(史冬鹏), a Chinese hurdler who specializes in the 110 metre hurdles. *

Shi Zhi Shi Zhi (; died 351) was briefly, for about one year, an emperor of the Jie-led Chinese Later Zhao dynasty. He was the last of four short-lived emperors after the death of his father Shi Hu (Emperor Wu), and Later Zhao's final emperor. He is s ...

(史侄), a Zhou-era public officer *

Shi Siming Shi Siming () (19th day of the 1st month, 703? – 18 April 761), or Shi Sugan (), was a Chinese military general, monarch, and politician during the Tang Dynasty who followed his childhood friend An Lushan in rebelling against Tang, and who lat ...

(史思明), emperor of the Yan dynasty *

Shi Liangcai Shi Liangcai () (January 2, 1880 – November 13, 1934) was a Chinese journalist best known for his ownership of '' Shen Bao'' and for his murder at the hands of Chiang Kai-shek's henchmen. Shi was born in Qingpu, now part of Shanghai. He st ...

(史量才, 1880–1934), a journalist * Shi Meng (史萌), athlete from the People's Republic of China who competes in triathlon *

Shi Liang (footballer) Shi Liang (; born 11 May 1989) is a Chinese football player who currently plays for Meizhou Kejia in the Chinese Super League. Club career Shi started his professional career with China League Two side Guangdong Sunray Cave in the 2007 league s ...

, (史亮) a footballer

References

{{100 Most Common Family Names in Mainland China Individual Chinese surnames