원주 원씨(原州 元氏) — It is regarded as the principal lineage of the Won clan whose ancestral seat is Wonju.
It is regarded as the principal lineage of the Won clan whose ancestral seat is Wonju. In the 2015 Census the 원주 원씨 clan numbered about 126,677 people, one of Korea's major surnames and clans. Even among people surnamed 원, a different clan seat (bon-gwan, 원주) means a different lineage. New to these terms? See the bon-gwan, pa & hangnyeol guide.
Ungok-pa, Wonseongbaek-pa, Sijung-gong-pa, Chungsuk-gong-pa
The Ungok branch (Ungok-gong line) traces its descent from Won Gyeong (元鏡), said to have been one of eight scholars sent to Goguryeo by Emperor Taizong of Tang. Ungok (耘谷) is also the pen name of the late-Goryeo recluse Won Cheon-seok (元天錫).
Won Cheon-seok withdrew from office to keep faith with Goryeo and is known as a teacher of Yi Bang-won (King Taejong). The Wonju Won lines have not produced a combined genealogy, but they agree that they form a single clan with Won Gyeong as founder.
The Wonseongbaek branch descends from Won Geuk-yu (元克猷), who helped found Goryeo, was named a first-rank founding merit subject, served as minister of war (byeongburyeong) and was enfeoffed as Earl of Wonseong (原城伯).
His 10th-generation descendant Won Bu (元傅, 1220-1287) became chief chancellor (cheomui jungchan) under King Chungnyeol, and Won Gyun (元均), commander of the three provincial navies who died at the Battle of Chilcheollyang during the Imjin War and was named a first-rank Seonmu merit subject, belonged to this line.
The Sijung-gong branch descends from Won Ik-gyeom (元益謙), who passed the civil service examination under King Sinjong of Goryeo.
Won Ho (元豪), posthumous name Chungjang, who repelled Japanese forces as a defense commander in Gangwon during the Imjin War, belonged to this line. His grandson Won Du-pyo (元斗杓, 1593-1664) was a merit subject of the 1623 Injo Restoration, was enfeoffed as Prince Wonpyeong and rose to left state councillor. Right State Councillor Won In-son (元仁孫) was among Won Du-pyo's descendants.
The Chungsuk-gong branch (Chungsuk-gong line) descends from Won Chung-gap (元沖甲, 1250-1321), the 11th-generation descendant of Won Geuk-yu, Earl of Wonseong.
A local licentiate serving in the Wonju special guard, he repeatedly defeated the forces of Hadan (哈丹) when they besieged Wonju in 1291 and held the fortress, and for this he was named a merit subject in 1319.
Branch divisions vary by lineage and jokbo; confirm your own branch in your family's records.
원천석, 원균, 원희룡
Tap a name for the full profile (life, career, grave, descendants).
For other branch associations, see the Korean E-Jokbo Library clan-association directory.
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