Ning (simplified Chinese: 宁; traditional Chinese: 寧; pinyin: níng or simplified Chinese: 宁; traditional Chinese: 甯; pinyin: nìng) is a family name of Chinese origin. It is sometimes written as Nang in Hakka dialect. Its literal meaning means "peace". This surname is known to be uncommon as it was not on the top 100 of most common surnames in 2006 and is most common in New Zealand with 18.69 frequency per million.
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Chinese
The origin of the surname Ning could be traced back to the earliest family in China. It is thought that Ning was originated from an old family in central China around two to three thousands years ago. Huangdi (The Yellow Emperor, born more than 4700 years ago), who was a great tribal chief at the time towards the end of primitive society in China, was honoured as the ancestor who had initiated Chinese civilization. He was also considered as the earliest ancestor of Ning’s family. It is said that one of the descendants of Huangdi, Zhou Wen Wang (the first emperor of Zhou Dynasty) founded the Zhou Dynasty (771-221 BC) in central China, and allotted the present territory of Hebei Province and Henan Province upon his son, Kang Su, where Kangsu established the State of Wei, a state of Dukedom under Zhou Dynasty. Upon the time when Wei Wu Gong (the offspring of Kang Su ) served as the king of Wei State, his young son, Ji Wei, was conferred upon the county of Ningyi, which included the current regions of Huojia County and Xiuwu County in Henan Province. Later on, the family of Ji Wei started to adopt the geographical name of Ningyi as his surname in commemoration of his settlement. That was the commencement of Ning’s family name. Ji Wei was thought as the first Chinese using "Ning" as a surname. During the period of the State of Wei, Ning’s family inherited the titles of the high-ranking officials from generations to generations and was handed down until Ning Xi with a total of nine generations, so that Ning’s family was also addressed as "nine generations of royal family".
“Ning’s people has been moving and settling down everywhere since the time of Ji Wei, who was considered to be the first ancestor of Ning’s family. Ning’s family name is different from other Chinese family names because Ning’s people are from the same root and share the same consanguinity even though there is a lack of the complete genealogy of the whole family and sufficient communications among Ning’s people in the world” (quoted from the commendations of overseas Ning’s people). Nowadays, Ning’s people live almost everywhere in the world, it is not easy to figure out the population of Ning’s people. However, it is estimated that there are over 800,000 Ning’s people in the world according to the information of Global Ning’s Family Homepage (www.ningcn.com). In China, the regions where most of Ning’s people live are the following provinces and municipalities: Shangdong, Shangxi, Hebei, Anhui, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujiang, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sichuan and Tianjing; there are also many Ning’s people living overseas, mainly in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the United States of America, Argentina, Canada, Thailand, Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Among the above provinces and municipalities, the majority of Ning’s people resides in Lingshang county, Pubei county, Bobai county, Heng county and Luchuan county of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region ; Wuchuan county and Huazhou city of Guangdong province; Shaoyang city, Hengyang city and Qiyang city of Hunan province；Yuncheng city of Shangxi province; Caohu city of Anhui province; Fenglai city and Qingdao city of Shangdong province; Ninghe county of Tianjing municipality. There are also several towns in Guangxi where live at least over ten thousands of Ning’s people, they are: Yandun, Taiping and Xinxu in Lingshang county; Xiaojian, Pubai county of Qinzhou city and Nalin, Bobai county of Yulin city .
Ninh (Vietnamese)
The ancient document, stored in the temple of the village Chi Phong (Ninh Binh province), Ninh Xa and La Xuyen (Nam Dinh province) has recorded that Lao La Great Officials – Ninh Huu Hung was born in 939, died in 1019. He was a General, who was in charge of the construction of Hoa Lu (ancient capital of Vietnam). In Vietnam, he is considered the founder of the carpentry and wood carving. He established the village in the land of Thiet Lam (Ironwood Forest). When he died, the villages of this land was changed into Ninh Xa (village of Ninh’s family), La Xuyen (origin from title Lao La).
Thus, the historical documents confirms that Ninh’s family has lived in Vietnam since Dinh dynasty. But perhaps, Ninh’s family lived in Vietnam since before this period (approximate in the year of the 8th century AD). Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh province can be considered as “fatherland” of Ninh’s family.
During the Tran Dynasty (1225–1400), ancestor Phuc Tien (deprivation Thang Lam Ba – The Count of Thang Lam) lived in Truc Tuan commune, Truc Ninh district Nam Dinh province. Ninh’s family at Truc Tuan commune was 28th generation so far from ancestor Phuc Tien.
In 1511, some descendants of Phuc Tien reclaiming coastal land, established the Hai Hau district today.
In 1428, after defeating the enemy Minh, Le Loi became the emperor (Le Thai To) of Great Vietnamese and founded the Later – Le dynasty. In 1478, Ninh Hang (origin in Lan Dinh commune – Thanh Lam district. Today is Dong Lac commune-Nam Sach district-Hai Duong province) has achieved the Dr. title level 2 under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, the year 9th of reign name Hong Duc. This event proved that Ninh’s family came from Yen Ninh to settle in Hai Duong in the period from Tran Dynasty to Later-Le dynasty. After the reign of Le Thanh Tong, along with an ancestor of Le’s family, Ninh Viet Than established Le Ninh commune (Kinh Mon district – Hai Duong province today). The name of Le Ninh commune assembled from two surname “Le” and “Ninh”.
Ninh’s family also came to establish at Song Khe commune -Yen Dung district- Bac Giang province. The acknowledgement of Ninh’s family genealogy began with Ninh Triet who was born in 1540 and archived the Dr. title level 3 under the reign of King Mac Mau Hop, the year 6th of reign name Sung Khang (1571).
In the years of reign name Hong Duc (1470–1497), Ninh Doan Chung came from Ninh Xa Ha – Yen Ninh commune to Coi Tri village “occupied for farming“. Huyen Tho, Huyen Phap were the 6th generation far from Doan Chung. Huyen Tho came to establish Trung Dong village, while Huyen Phap still stayed at Coi Tri village. Grandson of Huyen Tho, named Ninh Dat, achieved the Dr. title level 3 under the reign of King Le Than Tong, the year 2th of reign name Vinh Tho (1659). Grandsons of Huyen Phap, named Ninh Dich, Ninh Ngan. Ninh Dich achieved the Dr. title level 2 under the reign of King Le Du Tong, the year 14th of reign name Vinh Thinh (1718). Ninh Ngan’s Son is Ninh Ton achieved the Dr. title level 3, the year 39th of reign name Canh Hung (1778). Ninh Ton was the cultural celebrities named in the encyclopedia dictionary of Vietnam.
Thus, Ninh’s family originated in Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh province.
At present, Ninh’s family have been living the long-life at the below areas:
Yen Ninh commune- Y Yen district – Nam Dinh province (including Ninh Xa Ha, Ninh Xa Thuong, La Xuyen, Lu Phong,…). Truc Tuan Commune – Truc Ninh district – Nam Dinh province. Hai Anh commune – Hai Hau district – Nam Dinh province. Le Ninh Commune – Kinh Mon district – Hai Duong province. Trang Ky village - Tan Truong commune – Cam Giang district – Hai Duong province. An Binh village – Tuan Hung commune – Kim Thanh district – Hai Duong province. Song Khe commune – Yen Dung district – Bac Giang province Coi Tri and Trung Dong village – Yen My commune – Yen Mo district – Ninh Binh province.According to historical events, Ninh’s family on the above places on continuing to settle in Dong Thon village – Hoang Xuyen commune – Hoang Hoa district – Thanh Hoa province, Dong Nguyen village- Thai Phuc commune – Thai Thuy district – Thai Binh province, Tam Thai commune – Phu Ninh district – Quang Nam province. . .
Today, Ninh’s family are everywhere both domestically and abroad.
Ninh’s family is a long-life family in Vietnam. In the past and present, Ninh’s family have had great contributions to the cause of national defense and national construction.
Note
The stone on which were inscribed the names of celebrities:
Stone No. 6 – Temple of Literature Hanoi: Ninh Hang
Stone No. 41 – Temple of Literature Hanoi: Ninh Dat
Stone No. 61 – Temple of Literature Hanoi: Ninh Đich
Stone No. 81 – Temple of Literature Hanoi: Ninh Ton
Stone No. 6 – Temple of Literature BacNinh: Ninh Triet