Su Clan

Overview

The Su surname appears in Volume 77 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, under the section on Nikan surnames within the Manchu Banners. Su Youde belonged to the Bordered Yellow Banner under the jurisdiction of a bondservant official, residing in Liaoyang. He once served as a stable master; his son, Nartai, served as a court official; his grandson, Dingzhu, served as a third-class imperial bodyguard; and his great-grandsons, Qishiwu and Sanduo, both served as scribes when the genealogy was compiled. The original text does not record the year of this branch's submission.

Another branch, Su Chengde, belonged to the Plain White Banner under the jurisdiction of a bondservant official, residing in Shenyang. His great-grandson, Heben'e, served as a scribe. The Su Zong branch belonged to the Bordered Blue Banner under the jurisdiction of a bondservant official, residing in Shenyang. They submitted during the Tiancong era, and his great-grandson, Yichu, served as a Qiduwei. These three ancestors each have independent banner affiliations and descendant records; they cannot be linked together as a single father-son lineage solely based on the Su surname.

The stable master was involved in the management of stables and horses; the court official handled government administration; the third-class imperial bodyguard participated in imperial bodyguard duties; and the Qiduwei was a basic military rank within the Eight Banners. These job descriptions indicate that members of the bondservant class could assume duties in different areas. The term "bithesi" is a transliteration of the Manchu word, responsible for handling documents, copying, and translation. Tiancong was the reign title from 1627 to 1636, and Suzong's surrender should be placed within this era; however, the name, title, term of office, and specific affiliation still need to be verified.