ōu 欧

Migration and Distribution The prominent families of the Ou surname reside in Pingyang (present-day southwest of Linfen). The surnames share the same origin. Wu Yu, the son of Emperor Shao Kang of the Xia Dynasty, was enfeoffed in Kuaiji and established the Yue State as a vassal state. During the Spring and Autumn Period, it was conquered by the Wu State. Nineteen years later, Gou Jian restored the state. When Wu Jiang, the sixth - generation descendant of Gou Jian, was the King of Yue, the state was conquered by the Chu State. Wu Jiang's second son, Ti, was enfeoffed in the southern part of Ouyu Mountain in Wucheng. Since the south of a mountain is considered yang, he was titled Marquis of Ouyangting. The collateral descendants of Wu Jiang then took the name of the enfeoffed mountain and the title of the fief as their surnames, giving rise to the three surnames: Ou, Ouyang, and Ouhou. Later, although some people with the surnames Ouyang and Ouhou simplified their surnames to Ou, their origin still traces back to this branch.