Chinese surname YU (to Venice)

[CHUNG Yoon-Ngan <chungyn@mozart.joinet.net.au>]

Dear Venive,

Surname YEE in Mandarin is YU.
 

Chinese surname YU (§E)
Yu means: remainder; extra; surplus.
The surname Yu is about 2600 years old.

The surname Yu originated in an area referred to during the Han Dynasty 
(º~´Â 206BC to 220AD) as the Xia Pei Prefecture (¤UÍÖ°p). The present day
location of Xia Pei Prefecture is the Pei Xian (ÍÖ¿¤) in Jiangsu province
(¦¿Ä¬¬Ù).

In 1115BC Ji Song (®V»w) was installed as Zhou King Cheng (©P¦¨¤ý), the
second King of the Zhou Dynasty (©P´Â 1134BC to 256BC), who reigned until
1079BC. Zhou King Cheng delegated his younger brother Shu Yu (¨û¸·) to
rule the State recently conquered rebellious State of Tang (­ð°ê present
day Yi Cheng county Ál«°¿¤ in Shanxi province ¤s¦è¬Ù). Zhou King Cheng
bestowed upon Shu Yu the hereditary title of Hou («J) or Marquis. Shu Yu
was the known as Tang Shu Yu (­ð¨û¸·) and after him, his eldest son Ji
Xie (®VÀè) became the new ruler. Ji Xie  renamed the State of Tang to the
State of Jin (®Ê°ê), after the Jin Shui (®Ê¤ô) river that flowed through
his domain.

Nine generations after Tang Shu Yu and in 812BC, Ji Fei (®V¶O) became the
ruler of Jin. Ji Fei had two sons; the elder son was called Ji Chou
(®V¤³) and the younger son Ji Cheng Shi (®V¦¨®v). Ji Fei died in 782BC
and Ji Chou was installed as the ruler  who died in 746BC. Ji Chou's
eldest son Ji Bo (®V§B) became the ruler.
		  
Ji Bo was the ruler of Jin who ruled Jin4 from 745BC to 738BC. Ji Cheng
Shi was his uncleand was a very powerful official in the Jin Court. Ji Bo
knew that sooner or later his uncle would kill him and grab the throne
for himself. In order to save his own skin, in 742BC, Ji Bo relinquished
the territory of Qu Wo (¦±¨U) district, almost half of the State, to his
uncle. He even awarded his uncle the title of Bo (§B) or Count. Ji Cheng
Shi became the ruler of Qu Wo.

In order to show his nephew, Ji Bo, that he was more powerful than him,
Ji Cheng Shi purposely renamed his new domain as the State of Jin. By
doing so there two States of Jin in the land. It would be very confusing
for the citizens of the two States. To avoid confusion and to humble
himself, Ji Bo voluntarily changed the name of his State from Jin to Yi
(Ál). Ji Bo also changed his official title from Jin Zhao Hou (®Ê¬L«J) to
Yi Zhao Hou (Ál¬L«J).

Four years later in 738BC Pan Fu (¼ï¤÷), the Premier of Yi murdered Ji Bo.
With the death of the ruler, Pan Fu thought that he had the power to do
what he wanted to do. So Pan Fu planned to merge Yi with Jin. However,
the people of Yi refused and they had Pan Fu killed and elected Ji Ping
(®V¥­), the younger brother of Ji Bo, as the new ruler of Yi..

In 727BC the State of Jin attacked Yi and Ji Ping was killed in the
battle. The people of Yi again elected Ji Que (®V«o), a younger brother
of Ji Ping as their new ruler. Immediately Ji Que launched an attack on
Jin. However, the Yi forces were defeated and Ji Que fled to the State of
Sui (ÀH°ê present day Sui Xian ÀH¿¤ in Hubei province ´ò¥_¬Ù). Ji Guang
(®V¥ú), who was the son of Ji Que succeeded him as the ruler of Yi.

In 709BC Ji Guang attcked Yi and he was killed in the battle. A
housekeeper of Ji Guang took Ji You Yu (®V¥Ñ§E), the baby son of Ji
Guang, and fled west and settled down in the State of Qin (¯³°ê present
day Feng Xiang county »ñµ¾¿¤ in Shaanxi province ÔE¦è¬Ù).

It was during the period of Spring and Autumn (¬K¬î®É¥N 722BC to 481BC)
when Ji You Yu was a middle aged man, that in 659BC Ying Ren Hao (¾Æ¥ô¦n)
became the new ruler of the State Qin. He employed Ji You Yu as his
military adviser. Ji You Yu helped Ying Ren Hao in conquering a large
territory in the region east of Wei (´ô) Valley.

In 641BC the State of Qin conquered and annexed the State of Liang
(±ç°ê). The following year Qin conquered the State of Rui (ͺ°ê) and in
627BC it conquered the State of Hua (·Æ°ê). In total Qin had conquered
and annexed 12 States and became the hegemonic State in the west.

Ying Ren Hao died in 620BC and Ji You Yu resigned from his job and
retired. The offspring of Ji You Yu adopted YU (§E) as their surname in
remembrance of him.


CHUNG Yoon-Ngan   (   ¾G  ¥Ã  ¤¸  ).  


> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > My name is Venice McLaughlin-Yee.  I am trying to collect information on
> > > family names to make a book on heritage for my children.
> > > I surfed into the geocities site for Chinese surnames and am hoping that
> > > you can provide information on the surname Yee and Young.
> > > Yee is my father-in-law's name.  His father's name was Kee Yee.
> > > Young is my mother-in-law's.  Her father's name was  Charles Chong
> > > Young.
> > > Both men were born in China, but migrated to Jamaica, West Indies, as
> > > youngsters.
> > >
> > > I have tried to find information as my local library, but that was
> > > futile.
> > > I've searched the web before also and came up with nothing.
> > > So now, when I found your site,  I was thrilled.
> > > Please .....  any information you can provide would be appreciated.
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > > Venice Yee
> > >
> > >
>