Meaning of Last Name

Pan (p=Pān) is family name originated from China. Pan also is often romanized as Poon, Pun, or Pon. The surname is spelled as Poon or Pun in Hong Kong and Macau, Ban (formerly, Pan) in South Korea and Phan in Vietnam. One source lists Ji Sun, a descendant of Zhou Wen Wang as to being the origin of this surname. With his descendants having taken up the name of the area he governed, situated north of Shaanxi. Another source Pan came from the last name Mi(zh:芈), a noble family of the Chu kingdom. Later, the Mis changed their name to Pan. Among their descendents, there was a noble named Pan Chong. Pan served as Regent (Kingmaker) and advisor in the Chu kingdom. When King Chu Cheng Wang decided to relinquish throne to his younger son instead, Pan Chong aided the elder prince Shang Chen instead. This led to the suicide of Zhou Cheng Wang. For Pan's contribution, King Shang Chen gave Pan the title of the "Royal Tutor" and gave him all the wealth that he had accumulated while he was a prince. The Pan family thus had a very high social status in the Chu kingdom.