Migration and Distribution (Information missing) The Ai surname is not included in the top 100 surnames in the Chinese mainland or Taiwan. The earliest appearance of the Ai surname can be traced back to the minister named Ru Ai of King Shaokang of the Xia Dynasty in ancient times. He was a well - known and prominent aristocrat at that time, and his descendants took "Ai" as their surname. Another origin of the Ai surname dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period. There was a favorite official of Duke Jing of Qi named Tian Kong, who was enfeoffed in Aishan (now Tai'an County, Shandong Province). He was commonly known as Ai Zi or Ai Kong, and his descendants took the character "Ai" of the place name as their surname. Another theory is that some descendants of the Quijin clan during the Northern Wei Dynasty also changed their surname to Ai.