Goran Malmqvist

Family Name: The surname 马 (Mǎ) originates from the ancient Ying clan, a lineage tracing back to the legendary figure Boyi. Boyi was a talented minister during the reign of Emperor Shun, known for his skill in animal husbandry. One of Boyi's descendants, Feizi, became famous for breeding horses and was granted land in Qin (modern-day Tianshui, Gansu), establishing the state of Qin. A branch of Feizi's descendants adopted the surname 马 in honor of their connection to horses. Additionally, the surname 马 has other origins, including from少数民族改姓 (ethnic minorities adopting the surname).