Arla Clan

Overview

The Arla clan is a Manchu surname listed in Volume 59 of the official genealogy of the Manchu clans of the Eight Banners, compiled during the Qianlong reign. They were originally from Heilongjiang. Hong Acha of the Bordered Yellow Banner submitted to the Qing dynasty during the Tiancong era. His great-grandson, Nonartu, served as a first-class imperial bodyguard, and his great-great-grandson, Moxirtu, served as a blue-feathered imperial bodyguard. The genealogy juxtaposes the record of submission with the appointments of descendants, providing clues to identify the early banner affiliation and subsequent service of this surname.

Imperial bodyguards belonged to the system of guards, attendants, and attendants around the emperor. First-class and blue-feathered were different ranks within this system and cannot be simply simplified to the same position without distinction of rank. The status of imperial bodyguards also differed from that of guards in the princes' mansions; the original text uses "imperial bodyguard," and this system of affiliation should be retained.

Tiancong was the reign title of Huang Taiji during the reign of the Later Jin dynasty from 1627 to 1636; it indicates the time frame of Hong Acha's submission but does not directly specify when Nonartu and Moxirtu took office. The great-grandson and great-great-grandson are descendants, and their positions cannot be attributed to Hong Acha himself, nor are they sufficient to prove the inheritance of the title. The specific Heilongjiang settlement, the term of office of the guard, and the Manchu surname still need to be verified. The original text does not explain the etymology of the surname or its connection with other similar-sounding surnames.