Xie (simplified Chinese: 谢; traditional Chinese: 謝; pinyin: Xiè; Wade–Giles: Hsieh) is a common Chinese surname. It is ranked 23rd in the Song dynasty classic Hundred Family Surnames. As of 2013, it was the 23rd most common surname in China, with approximately 10.10 million bearers.
Origin
The Xie surname originates from the ancient State of Xie (謝), located in what is now Xinyang, Henan province, during the Western Zhou dynasty.
- The first known ancestor of the Xie clan was Shen Yibo (申伯), also known as Shen Shu (申叔), a maternal uncle of King Xuan of Zhou (reigned 827–782 BC). King Xuan granted Shen Yibo the fiefdom of Xie, making him the Marquis of Xie. His descendants later adopted Xie as their surname.
- The state of Xie was later conquered by the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period. Descendants scattered and continued to use Xie as their surname, preserving their ancestral identity.
Historical Prominence
The Xie clan rose to particular prominence during the Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420 AD), becoming one of the "Four Great Clans" of the era, alongside the Wang, Yuan, and Xiao clans.
- Xie An (320–385 AD) was a highly influential statesman and general who played a crucial role in the Battle of Fei River, a decisive victory that preserved the Eastern Jin dynasty from invasion by the Former Qin.
- Xie Xuan (343–388 AD), Xie An's nephew, was the chief commander of the Jin forces at the Battle of Fei River and is celebrated for his military prowess.
- Other notable historical figures include Xie Lingyun (385–433 AD), a prominent poet of the Southern Dynasties and one of the progenitors of Chinese landscape poetry, and Xie Daoyun (fl. 376 AD), a renowned female scholar, calligrapher, and debater.
Geographical Distribution
The Xie surname is widely distributed across China, particularly in the southern provinces such as Fujian, Guangdong, and Sichuan. Due to historical migrations, it is also very common in Taiwan and among overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia (e.g., Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia) and other parts of the world. The Hakka people and Minnan (Hokkien) speakers frequently bear this surname.
Variations and Romanizations
- Xie is the pinyin romanization, widely used in mainland China and increasingly internationally.
- Hsieh is the Wade–Giles romanization, common in Taiwan and in older English-language contexts.
- Che is the common Cantonese romanization (e.g., in Hong Kong and Macau).
- Sia or Seah are common Hokkien romanizations (e.g., in Fujian, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia).
- Chia is a common Hakka romanization.
- Other less common variations include Tse (Cantonese), Tia (Hokkien), and Chah (Teochew).
Notable People
- Xie An (320–385 AD), statesman and general of the Eastern Jin dynasty.
- Xie Xuan (343–388 AD), general of the Eastern Jin dynasty.
- Xie Lingyun (385–433 AD), Southern Dynasties poet.
- Xie Fuchun (1850–1912), Qing dynasty scholar and diplomat.
- Xie Jinyuan (1905–1941), Chinese Nationalist officer during World War II, famous for defending the Sihang Warehouse.
- Xie Jun (born 1970), Chinese chess grandmaster, former Women's World Chess Champion.
- Xie Na (born 1981), Chinese television host and actress.
- Xie Xingfang (born 1981), Chinese badminton player, former world champion and Olympic silver medalist.
- Hsieh Su-wei (born 1986), Taiwanese professional tennis player, multiple Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles.
- Hsieh Tung-min (1907–2001), Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (1978–1984).