gěng 耿

### Migration and Distribution The birthplace of the Geng surname is present-day Wen County, Henan. From the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the Qin Dynasty, the Geng family gradually scattered across present-day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi and other places. In the Western Han Dynasty, the Geng clan began to make their mark. Among them, Geng Shouchang was the most famous. He was granted the title of Marquis within the Pass, and his descendants settled in Chang'an (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). Additionally, Geng Yu, Geng Feng, Geng Chang, and Geng Ding from Fuyang (present-day Fuping, Shaanxi) were also recorded in historical annals. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, officials, commoners, and heroes from various prefectures and principalities were relocated to Fufeng Maoling (northeast of present-day Xingping, Shaanxi). At that time, a branch of the Geng family from Julu (now in Hebei Province), as officials of the two - thousand - dan rank, moved to this place. When it came to Geng Kuang in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the most prominent Geng family in history emerged. He had six sons: Geng ×, Geng Shu, Geng Guo, Geng Guang, Geng Ju, and Geng Ba. In the war to restore the Han Dynasty, each of them made remarkable military achievements and became well - known far and wide. Moreover, their descendants were also no less outstanding and frequently appeared in historical records. From the restoration of the Han Dynasty by Emperor Guangwu to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty during the Jian'an era, this branch of the Geng family produced two great generals, nine generals, thirteen ministers, nineteen marquises, three of whom married royal princesses, and one woman married into the royal family and became the queen. There were also dozens or even hundreds of people serving as Colonels, Protector - generals of the Qiang people, governors, and officials of the two - thousand - dan rank. This branch of the Geng family outshined the Geng Chun family from Songzi, Julu (present - day Zhaozhou, Hebei Province) at the same time. Geng Chun was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Dongguang, and his three cousins and sons were all made marquises, so it could be said that there were five marquises in one family. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, this branch of the Geng family almost suffered a devastating blow. Geng Ji, the great - great - grandson of Geng Guo, was exterminated along with his three clans by Cao Cao. Geng Yuan, the great - great - grandson of Geng Ba, was also exterminated, leaving only Geng Hong, the grandson of Geng Yuan. When Geng Chun launched an uprising, he led more than two thousand clan members and guests. Later, his family was allowed to stay in Puwu (southwest of present - day Lingshou, Hebei Province). From the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Geng family thrived in Hedong, Gaoyang, Fufeng and other places, and formed prestigious lineages in these three areas. During this period, some Geng clan members also moved to southern regions such as present - day Jiangsu and Anhui. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the Geng surname was more widely distributed in the southern regions, but the clans were small and weak. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the Geng family in Shanxi was one of the surnames resettled from Hongtong Big Sophora Tree. They were resettled in Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Beijing, Tianjin and other places. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Geng Zhongming moved from Shandong to Malanyu, Gaizhou, Liaodong (within present - day Gaixian County, Liaoning Province). During and after the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty, the Geng families from Hebei, Shandong, Henan and other places moved to the three northeastern provinces along with the trend of migrating to Northeast China. Today, the Geng surname is widely distributed across the country. It is particularly common in Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, and Liaoning. The Geng population in these eight provinces accounts for about 77% of the Han Geng population in the whole country. The Geng surname ranks 148th among Chinese surnames today. It has a relatively large population, accounting for about 0.076% of the Han population in China.