Ertu Clan

Overview

The Ertu clan is a Manchu surname listed in Volume 54 of the officially compiled *Comprehensive Genealogy of Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, scattered in places like Dundadun. The Chaqi Mantai branch of the Plain Yellow Banner submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Xia Shitai, a fourth-generation descendant, served as an acting military commander in the Yunnan campaign, earning the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank), which was later inherited by Jilantai. Here, "military commander" refers to a military post, while "Yunqiwei" was a hereditary title awarded for merit; the recorded military achievements do not belong to Chaqi Mantai himself.

The Nara branch of the Bordered Yellow Banner originated in Heilongjiang, and the year of their submission is unknown. Their eldest son, Meng'ete, served as a second-class imperial bodyguard, and their second son, named "Manzhou," served as a third-class imperial bodyguard, earning the title of Yunqiwei after participating in the battles in Yunnan and Guizhou. Here, "Manzhou" is placed next to the second son's name, indicating a specific person; it should not be misinterpreted as a clan affiliation description, nor should the second son's military achievements be attributed to his elder brother.

The appendix also mentions that Jiang Tai, from the Bordered White Banner, resided in Heilongjiang, and Lu Ku, from the Bordered Red Banner, resided in Ertu Village; both submitted to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Suiledan and Wuhunimingan, among others, submitted during the Tiancong era. The fact that surnames and village names are the same can only serve as clues; the genealogy does not explicitly state that the surname originated from that village, so the etymology cannot be determined independently. The locations of Dundadun and Ertu Villages, their Manchu names, and the lineages of each branch still require verification.