Cai

蔡 — An ancient state in Henan; a tortoise for divination

6,100,000

Population

#38

Country Rank

0.43%

of Population

Chinese Names

Culture

Origin & History

The Cai surname derives from the ancient state of Cai, granted to Ji Du, a younger brother of the Duke of Zhou, in present-day Henan province. The state of Cai existed for about 600 years before being absorbed by Chu in 447 BC, after which its people took Cai as their surname. The name is very common in Fujian, Taiwan, and among Hokkien-speaking overseas Chinese, where it is romanised as Tsai or Chua.