Be Sure to Visit my new 1900 Galveston Storm Website at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootseb.com/~barnette 

CHINESE HAD SURNAMES EARLY IN HISTORY

 Prior to the three Chinese dynasties of Xia, Shuang and Zhou (2140-256 BC) the noble class in China were using surnames (Xing) and clan names (Shi). The surnames originated from the name of the village of one's family and the clan name derived from the name of the territory or a title granted by the emperor to a noble for an achievement. The name of one's clan name was carved on one's tombstone to indicate a hope he will return there.

 In 627 AD, during the reign of Emperor Tang Tai Zong, a government official, Gao Shi Lian, made a survey and found there were a total of 593 different surnames in China. During the Northern Song Dynasty (960 AD) a book, SURNAMES OF A HUNDRED FAMILIES was written. This book records 438 surnames. 408 surnames are single word surnames and 30 are double word surnames.

 In 1977 the Chinese government compiled a new set of statistics on Chinese surnames. According to that report 70% of the Chinese people have one of 45 surnames.  The following 10 surnames represent 40% of the surnames of people in China: Zhang, Wang, Li, Zhao, Chen, Yang, Wu, Liu, Huang and Zhou.

 Three additional groups of 35 surnames represent 30% of the surnames of China. Two groups of 10 surnames and one of 15 each represent 10% of all Chinese surnames. The remaining 30% of surnames are comparatively rare.

 A study of the Origin of the Hundred Surnames is available on the Internet at http://geocities.com/Tokyo/3919/hundred.html /. In addition a query bulletin board for those interested in Chinese names is located  at http://www.ziplink.net/~rey/ch/queries/. Readers may read the queries already posted, then leave a query of their own for others to answer.

CHSA FOUNDED IN 1963

 The Chinese Historical Society of America was founded in 1963 to study, collect, document and disseminate the history of Chinese Americans. The society also promotes the discovery of finding one's Chinese American roots.

 The CHSA is located at 644 Broadway Street, Suite 402, San Francisco, CA 94133. They may be reached by telephone at 415-391-1188, by email at info@chsa.org or one may visit their website at http://chsa.org. The society publishes an annual journal, "Chinese America: History and Perspectives" and is scheduled to open the National Chinese American Museum in San Francisco in late 2000.

   GENEALOGICAL SEMINAR

 The Williamson County Genealogical Society will host their annual seminar on March 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1004 North Mays in Round Rock. The featured speaker will be Leslie Smith Collier who will explain how to use vital records, probate records, deed records and land platting in genealogical research.

 For more information contact the society at 512-255-1039 or email them at lar-wan@swbell.net or jbarton851@aol.com

GENEALOGICAL CLASSES

 Houston author, Emily Croom, will offer a six week course, Finding Your Roots-Methods and Sources at Houston Community College's Bellaire High School campus, 5100 Maple at Rice. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. commencing March 21 at Houston Community College's Bellaire High School campus, 5100 Maple at Rice.

 Registration prior to March 14 is required. For more  information and to register, contact HCC at 713-718-7720.

 Croom will also offer a two day genealogy course, Finding Your Roots-Methods and Sources, at Houston Community College's 1681 Cartwright Road Missouri City Campus. Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday March 28 and 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

  For more information and to register, contact HCC at 281-835-5539.

NEWS FROM THE BOOK SHELF

 Sheau-yueh J. Chao recently compiled the first book in English  to aid people of Chinese descent in understanding the history, meaning and spelling of their names. IN SEARCH OF YOUR ASIAN ROOTS:  Genealogical Research on Chinese Surnames was published by and is available for $33.45 from the Clearfield Company, 200 E. Eager St., Baltimore, MD 21202.

 The Chinese possess one of the oldest genealogical traditions in the world, extending back to the Shang Period (1700-1122 BCE). The author provides context for these traditions and includes a glossary and chronology of Chinese history to help readers in finding terms and the dates of imperial time periods referenced in the book.

 Included, also, is a Pinyin to Wade-Giles Conversion Table which romanizes Chinese sounds. This system is employed by the Library of Congress in their classification of Chinese materials held in their collections.

 There are three principal chapters in the book: the history of Chinese names; reasons surnames have changed and a bibliography of books on Chinese surnames in both the Chinese and English language.

 Anyone with Chinese ancestry will find this book invaluable in understanding the origin and meaning of their name.