Meaning: The surname 元 (Yuán) carries connotations of origin, beginning, and the first. One of the most accepted origins of the Yuan surname is traced back to Yuan Xian, a noble and virtuous minister of the Shang Dynasty, whose descendants adopted his name as their surname. Another theory suggests it originated from Ji姓, as some descendants of Kang Shu, the ninth son of King Wen of Zhou, were granted the surname 元 when they were enfeoffed in the State of Wei. Additionally, some Yuan surnames arose from the adoption of the surname by foreign ethnic groups.
Yuan Xi (元熙)
A member of the Northern Wei imperial family, he served as General of Pacifying the West and Governor of Xiangzhou, and was killed after a failed uprising against Yuan Cha, posthumously titled Prince Wenzhuang.
Yuan Gong (元恭)
Emperor Jiemin of Northern Wei, a Xianbei, was enthroned by Erzhu Shilong and later deposed by Gao Huan.
Yuan Zai'an Master (元在庵主人)
A figure from the Southern Song Dynasty, known for visiting the Huajing Cave in Guilin and composing 'Shitang Song' in 1191.
The surname 元 symbolizes beginnings and origins, with roots tracing back to ancient Chinese nobility and virtuous ministers. It carries a rich historical and cultural significance.