Denis Twitchett

Family Name: The surname 崔 originates from the ancient state of Cui, which was granted to Ji Zi, the son of Jiang Taigong, the founding ruler of the state of Qi during the Western Zhou Dynasty. Ji Zi, who abdicated in favor of his elder brother, was granted the territory of Cui (located in present-day Zhangqiu, Shandong). His descendants adopted the name of the territory as their surname, hence the surname 崔. The Cui family has a long history of holding significant positions such as prime ministers and generals, making it one of the prominent aristocratic families in ancient China.