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The Chong - AhNee Research Center

Chinese ancestral research is daunting, to say the least. Its rich history is the result of relentless change. The culture is ancient and driven by traditional elements affected, mutated, and transformed by time and circumstance. Chinese politics is a cartographer's nightmare; as the names of areas and their boundaries change so do the maps. And then there are the famous Chinese "dialects" comprised of 10 - 12 different branches depending on the resource.

Naming Conventions

Chinese naming conventions are involved and multi-dimensional. So if you're looking for a Chinese ancestor, understanding these naming practices is a good place to start.
Wikipedia: Chinese Name
Hakka Words and Phrases scroll down to the end of the table on this site for relationship or "pet" names
Hawaiian Chinese Surnames
Chinese Surnames: The Hundred Families Surnames

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Chinese Dialects & Ethnic Groups

The majority of our Chinese family is of Hakka descent and spoke in that dialect.
Hakka - An Important Element of Chinese Culture
Wikipedia: Hakka

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Repositories
Library of Congress: The Chinese in California 1850 - 1925
San Francisco Cemetery Lists

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Get Help

If you haven't found out already, researching your Chinese roots can be frustrating especially when you don't speak the language. Finding place names on documents that no longer exist on maps and family surnames that don't jibe are fairly common occurrences. When you need help, look to these sources.
Chinese Surname Queries A forum specifically for questions about Chinese surname and genealogy
Hakka Forum

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