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 Juzhong (元居中)
an official during the Northern Song Dynasty, served as magistrate of Tiantai County and governor of Suzhou, with three poems extant.
Yuanxian (元贤)
a late Ming Dynasty Buddhist monk, disciple of Wuming Huijing, authored over a hundred volumes.
Yuan Xun (元勋)
An official of the Northern Song Dynasty, known for serving as the magistrate of Ningguo County and later demoted to Kuizhou, ended his career as the magistrate of Suizhou.
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.