Zeng

Zeng (Chinese: 曾; pinyin: Zēng; Wade–Giles: Tseng) is a Chinese family name. In Cantonese, it is Tsang; in Taiwan, Tseng or Tzeng; in Malaysia, Chan; in Indonesia, Tjan; in Vietnam, Tăng. The surname Zeng is the 32nd most common surname in Mainland China. It is the 16th most common surname in Taiwan.

In 2118 BC, Si Shao Kang became the king of the Xia Dynasty. The Si's were the descendants of the King Yu of Xia (Si was the surname of the royal house of the Xia Dynasty). Shao Kang delegated one of his sons to rule the State of Zeng (Zeng was originally the name of a place) during the Shao Kang's reign. However in 567 BC, the kingship of the State of Zeng was usurped by a cousin with a different surname. Some of the royal members with the surname Si including the prince of Zeng fled to the State of Lu. The Prince of Zeng gave his descendants the surname Zeng in remembrance of the Zeng state.