The surname 蕭/萧 (Xiao1)

[skylee]

I've read this column recently -> http://www.metrohk.com.hk/news.php?startDate=31102005&newscat=8&newsid=1008

一字兩簡

日前提及蕭先生變了肖先生一事，許多讀者來信指正，說蕭的簡體字是「萧」，蕭與肖是兩個不同的姓氏。不過有時理論歸理論，實踐歸實踐，蕭變肖的情況確實存在。

蕭是個大姓，出過兩代皇帝，南朝的齊、梁君主都姓蕭，但是歷史上姓肖的名人少之又少。通行本《百家姓》就有蕭無肖。總之，未有簡體字之前，似乎極少見有人姓肖，近幾十年下來確多了許多，那麼有幾多人由蕭變肖，似乎是個可以研究的有趣課題！

實情是國內許多人不理會官方公佈的規範簡體字，真的以為蕭的簡寫是肖！如果各位在互聯網上檢索「梁武帝蕭衍」和「梁武帝肖衍」都會感覺到蕭衍和肖衍是同一個人。蕭、萧、肖確有給混為一談。

問題可能出於一些基層幹部、甚至教育界、出版界都只知有肖、不知有蕭，說不定在普及教育過程中，許多蕭家給教導成肖家。中國工程院院士、中國藥用植物及中藥研究的主要奠基人蕭培根教授，就常被人改成肖教授。

It talks about the confusion between the simplified character 萧 (traditional form is 蕭) and the character 肖. Actually I have been wondering why mainland people use 肖 as surname.

Xiandai Hanyu Cidian says ->

肖 - 姓 ("萧"俗作肖)。

俗. I think it is like some HK people who use traditional characters use 琼 instead of 瓊 in their names. But I would think that people would treat their surnames more seriously ...

Now my question is - are there two separate surnames 肖 (Xiao1) and 萧 (Xiao1); or is 肖 just a 俗写 of 萧 but is used so extensively that it is replacing 萧?

[studentyoung]

Actually I have been wondering why mainland people use 肖 as surnam.

Now my question is - are there two separate surnames 肖 (Xiao1) and 萧 (Xiao1); or is 肖 just a 俗写 of 萧 but is used so extensively that it is replacing 萧?

Please check the link, and hope it might help you!

http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/748036.html

Thanks!

[skylee]

studentyoung, thank you for the link. It is very helpful.

[hparade]

It's the confusion intensified by 二簡, but this 俗寫 may had been used widely in society before.

[hparade]

Similar cases:

◎“闫≠阎”“肖≠萧”“付≠傅” 王 正

笔者认识的老区长傅庭起，《新晚报》两次报道两个姓：“傅”与“付”，一人两姓。甚至在同一篇报道中也有这种情况：“闫江涛买了五张彩票..... 阎先生把车开走。”（《碎彩票换回桑塔纳》，《黑龙江晨报》）还有一些人以为“肖”是“萧”姓的简化字，这也是误解。其实，“付≠傅、闫≠阎、肖≠萧、代 ≠戴”，这些都是姓氏字，但并非同姓一宗，不能因其同音（其中“肖、萧”音调各异）而任意相代，也非前者为后者的“简化字”。“闫（阎）、肖（萧）” 虽曾一度作为“二简字”试用过，但1986年10月国务院明令废止使用。姓是家族的标志，也是一个人主权的象征。既应该尊重别人主权的姓，也应该维护自己主权的姓。试问：如果你自己的姓名写错一个字，到储蓄所你能取出钱来吗？

http://www.hljyw.net/zmn1.htm

[skylee]

I am surprised to see this in RTHK news, and really don't know if the person mentioned is 蕭鋼 or 肖鋼.

PS - According to this website the guy's name is 肖 (even in traditional Chinese), not 蕭. So in Cantonese he is Mr Tsiu, not Mr Siu.