See the whole storyOrigin of my surname

The surname Ma Fu originated from the fiefdom of Zhao She, a famous general of the Zhao state during the Warring States period, and is a surname derived from the place of residence. In 270 BC, Zhao She, a general of the Zhao state, led his army to a great victory over the Qin army in the Battle of Qin and Zhao. King Huiwen of Zhao enfeoffed Zhao She with Ma Fu (northwest of present-day Handan City, Hebei Province) and bestowed upon him the title "Lord Ma Fu," an rank equivalent to that of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru. Zhao She's descendants adopted "Ma Fu" as their surname, which was later changed to the single surname "Ma."

The origins lie in surname changes. During the Han Dynasty, there was a man named Ma Gong from Qi County, Donghai. Originally surnamed Ma Shi, he was a minister in the Western Han Dynasty, holding several important official positions. He later changed his surname to Ma. After the Jin Dynasty, many people with the surname Sima changed their surname to the single-character surname Ma. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, an Arab missionary named Hamuzhe Baba came from West Asia and settled in Longshan, Dongxiang (now Hamuzhe Ridge Village, Pingzhuang Township, Dongxiang County, Gansu Province), spreading Islamic teachings in the surrounding area. Under the influence of Hamuzhe Baba, eight villages (also known as eight surnames or eight villages) of northern ethnic minorities around Longjiashan converted to Islam. These minorities gradually assimilated into the Dongxiang ethnic group after their conversion. The vast majority retained their original surnames, but some changed them, such as in Jiajia Village, Dongxiang County. The Jia surname minority members converted to Islam and changed their surname to Ma. Today, there are no longer any people with the surname Jia in Jiajia Village, only those with the surname Ma.

According to the "Examination of Surnames", the surname Ma has existed in the Western Regions since ancient times. Later, some people with the surname Ma entered the interior and adopted "Ma" as their surname.

Originating from Ma Zhi, an official during the Western Zhou Dynasty, this surname is derived from an official title. Ma Zhi was an official position established during the Western Zhou Dynasty, specifically responsible for the collection and inspection of horses. According to the classic text *Zhou Li* (Rites of Zhou), specifically the section on *Xia Guan* (Summer Officials) and *Ma Zhi*, horses were categorized into three types: warhorses, field horses, and slow-moving horses (horses unsuitable for both warfare and plowing). Each type had a price. Among Ma Zhi's descendants, some adopted his official title as their surname, becoming the "Ma Zhi clan," which was later simplified to the single surname *Ma*. This surname has been passed down through generations to this day, making it one of the oldest and most historically significant surnames.