The Chinese word 姓氏, meaning "surname" or "family name", is formed through the historical combination and semantic fusion of two originally distinct but related characters: 姓 (xìng) and 氏 (shì). In ancient China, 姓 referred to one's broader ancestral clan, often matrilineal and indicating common descent, while 氏 denoted a specific branch or subdivision of that clan, often patrilineal and linked to titles, fiefs, or occupations. Over time, as the social and familial structure evolved, the distinction blurred, and the two characters merged into a single, cohesive compound word where each reinforces the other, collectively encompassing the modern concept of a hereditary family name.