Chinese Genealogy
This site is devoted to the genealogy of Chinese families from an area of Guangdong, China (中國廣東)commonly known as Siyi (四邑) or four counties. The counties are Xinhui (新會), Taishan (台山), Kaiping (開平), and Enping (恩平). The families in this area have much in common besides geographic location. The great majority trace their origin to China’s central plain. Each faamily may have different reasons for leaving the Central Plains and migrated southward. The most common would be fleeing the turmoil caused by an invading nomad tribe, internal uprising or natural disaster. This southward journey happened in multiple stages and over hundreds of years. Each major unrest or disaster drove them further south until they finally settled in their current locations. In many cases this final settlement took place five to six hundred years ago.
Due to crowded living condition and lack of agrarian land the migration, however, continued. At first a small number headed to the South Pacific. Since the 1850’s an increasing large number had crossed the Pacific and Indian Oceans in search of work. This is not a true migration in that they seldom settled in their new locations due to cultural and political reasons. This, however, began to change in the latter half of the 20th century as the Western nations amended their immigration policies primarily because of the overseas Chinese’s contributions to the war effort during World War II. This coupled with events in China made many decided to have their families joined them and settled in the foreign land.
A place of great significant during this southward migration is Zhujixiang, Nanxiong (南雄珠璣巷). A vast majority of the families in the Pearl River Delta area trace their roots to there. One can say it is Pearl River Delta genealogy’s equivalent to the Americans’ Mayflower and Plymouth Rock.
The surnames we are actively researching are: Chan, Chow, Der, Kwan, Lee, Mak, Wong, and Zhao (陳周謝關李麥黃趙). So far we only have time to compile some of the information on the Chow (周), Der (謝), Lee (李), and Zhao (趙).
searching for my father-in laws family in quangdong in china and also in shenzhen my father in law entered new zealand in 1920 and died in nz 27/1/1976 he was a private person didnt talk about his family in china but now we are getting older and that my father in law didnt go back to see his family in china we felt that is my husband and i would like to make contact with the families in china as we would like to vist with our 6 childern to reunite with my father inlaws family his name is joe ying jun his daughter name is feng hua zhou her husband is zhi rni xu i dont know if she is still alive or not if any one knows of these two people could you contact me as soon as possible i think they have been living in shenzhen since 1980s
thank you daphne young
If you have the names of your father-in-law, his daughter, and her husband in Chinese character would be really helpful. You’ll need the name of your father-in-law’s village in Chinese characters as well.
Any correspondence between your father-in-law and people in China are good sources for such information. The question is finding them after all these years.
Good luck!
Daphne – Are you in New Zealand? Is your father in law “joe ying jun “? Where was he living? Is he part of the Joe family from Taranaki?
to helen yes my father in law is joe ying jun he was living in auckland he had a market garden in hamilton then he moved to old papatoetoe he had a fruit shop in papatoetoe im not sure if he has family in nz he had another chinese man that lived with the family for many years until he died his name was joe quin if he was family we dont know i would like to know though if any one knows it would be so good you can e mail me on (due to spam considerarion Daphne’s email address has been deleted. Anybody wanting to contact Daphne, please contact us. See Contact Us.) no im now living in australia we have been here for 5 yrs now i go back to nz every now and then my daughter still lives there
my grandfather is death 15th year ago. Your documents I don´t know your origen exactly. I only know that he is the Cantoon China in Hong Kong. His name was Moi Lam Chong. He come to Nicaragua 60´s approx. I´d like to know your origen and if he has some family there. Present I live in Nicaragua. I need something of information. please and thanks.
Mario,
Canton is now known by its Chinese name Guangzhou which is a short train ride from Hong Kong. See map.
In the old days some people gave Canton as their place origin although they weren’t from there. The reason being it is well-known. If your grandfather’s tombstone has Chinese writing then most likely it has the name of village and county he came from. Take a photo, email it to me, and hopefully we can locate it on the map.
I am looking for any Chinese families associated with Lytton B.C. Canada especially with the joss house that was located in Lytton c.1882-1920.
Thank you,
Koten
In reply to Koten Benson, I am very much interested in your research. I know of some of the descendants from a business family that was located in Lytton for years and have a friend who has done some research as well. Please email me about the joss house. I have always wondered what happened to the deity’s.
John.
Feb 01, 2010
My father came to Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa) as an indentured laborer in the 1900s and married my mother, a Samoan. His name was recorded as Sing Chao Lei Sam but I believe this was not the correct spelling of his name. His recorded birth date was Feb 14 1914. He was from the Quagdong province or Canton as he told us. We never knew of any of his families and would like to find out any families and his correct name and any other information regarding his family line.
To John Haugen re. Lytton Joss house.
Please email me lionsgatebuddhistpriory@lyttonbc.net
Thank you,
Koten
hello
My Husband is seaching for information about his grandfather.
Could someone give us an idea of where to start please .
We will be thankful for ideas please email us at kepaandsarahandrews@gmail.com
His grandfather was Sing lip Hing Gin,we are not sure extactly what province he was from but stories say he was from Canton. He married Queenie Josephine Birch they had children and later had a market garden in Panmure Auckland. This is the first website we have come across that maybe helpful.
thank you