The feudal nobility of Chou took local place names to identify their clans; the use of these shih surnames (as distinct from the hsing or matrilineal family names) became a mark of the aristocracy, and it became a matter of pride to have a shih. Naturally, in adopting shih, clans gave up their hsing.
周初分建諸侯，就採用「胙土命氏」的辦法，氏成為貴族階級的標誌，人人都以有氏為榮。自然的，有氏的家族便捨了姓，而以氏來作為家族的代號。