Clans of Metzetta
Metzetta has a small pool of only 311 extant family names, an unusually low number for a country of its size. One's family name or clan is seen as a central part of one's identity. New family names are very seldom created and there is no existing legal structure for changing names in Metzetta. Clans fit into several categories defined by their origin (often a fictitious origin perpetuated by the clans themselves) and regularly publish books detailing their numbers in various regions and extensive family trees. Each family has an associated shrine which members of the clan financially contribute to if they wish. Marrying within one's clan is considered a strong taboo tantamount to incest even if there is no known blood relation present.
Imperial Clan and cadet branches
The foremost clan in Metzetta is the Imperial Clan; it is the only clan which changes its name, which happens every time Metzetta is ruled by an Empress. Any children, grandchildren and sons- or daughters-in-law of an Emperor or Empress is a member of the Imperial Clan and is granted the title of Prince or Princess. More distant relatives are usually highly esteemed while their clan name is new, only for the effect to become diluted if the name becomes more common with the passage of time. Many of Metzetta's early Emperors are considered now to be legendary, made up to cement the royal family's claim to be the legitimate heirs of the gods and possessors of the mandate of Heaven. However these early Empresses are still often associated with a known clan name; whether this is compelling evidence they existed, or were named after the fact by nobles seeking to make their mark on history is up for consideration.
There have been 44 ruling houses or dynasties of Metzetta, and many of their namesakes remain in use today. Some Empresses produced no male heirs to carry on their names, see Orphan Clans below for more information. Clan names ending in Hu indicate that Empress was the second of her name, and these clan names could be considered equivalent to the western names beginning Mac or Mc meaning son. Through ongoing use or orphaned status, the Imperial clan is responsible for XX clan names in use today.
| Name | Status | Shrine location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalrae | Extinct | Mount Riwa, Riwagun, Wassi | Dalrae is not usually considered a clan name and members of her house are usually given mononyms (e.g. Emperor Wa is never referred to as Dalrae Wa) but is included here for completeness. |
| Hing | Extinct | ||
| Chyun | Extinct | ||
| Juri | In use | ||
| Chyun-Hu | Extinct | ||
| Oli | In use | ||
| Oli-Hu | Extinct | ||
| Zong | In use | ||
| An | Extinct | ||
| Seulgi | Extinct | ||
| Shon | In use | ||
| Kyo | In use | ||
| Kukki | In use | ||
| Jjeo | Extinct | ||
| Zwe | Extinct | ||
| Pang | Orphaned | ||
| Ichwo | Extinct | ||
| Zeung | Extinct | ||
| Hironi | In use | ||
| Jjeo-Hu | Extinct | ||
| Sun | In use | ||
| Yise | In use | ||
| Sun-Hu | Extinct | ||
| Malari | In use | ||
| Saeko | In use | ||
| Pang-Hu | Extinct | ||
| An-Hu | Extinct | ||
| Wendi | In use | ||
| Mali | Orphaned | ||
| Zwe-Hu | Orphaned | ||
| Shoku | In use | ||
| Yise-Hu | Extinct | ||
| Meyoha | In use | ||
| Lon | In use | ||
| Salma | In use | ||
| Hizo | Orphaned | ||
| Keuto | Orphaned | ||
| Hing-Hu | In use | ||
| Lon-Hu | In use | ||
| Eluwi | Orphaned | ||
| Anru | In use | ||
| Seunsi | Orphaned | ||
| Pomewa | In use | ||
| Joya | In use |
Noble clans
The nobility of Metzetta were sure to cement their position in the upper classes by directly affecting the writing of seminal Metzettan history textbooks to names children of Dalrae after themselves according to the illustrious volumes of the Iyagi-seda, Iyagi-ingan and Iyagi-segye. There were 55 clan names introduced via their respective matriarchs in these texts, of which XX remain in use today.
| Name | Status | Shrine location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ssuseol | In use | ||
| Pyeolhae | In use | ||
| Apsu | In use | Zyeol, Zyeolsi, Wassi | |
| Kino | In use | ||
| Haruka | In use | ||
| Migyung | In use | ||
| Zuzeonhwa | In use | ||
| Jaenan | In use | ||
| Iseul | In use | ||
| Nikoni | |||
| Soo | |||
| Hyuna | |||
| Shu | |||
| Sangsanglyeog | |||
| Gyosu | |||
| Chilyoja | In use | ||
| Seongjigja | |||
| Joseonga | |||
| Yolisa | In use | ||
| Gaengbu | |||
| Gungsu | |||
| Dogong | |||
| Jeonyleong | |||
| Hanyeo | |||
| Pujusgan | |||
| Banjug | |||
| Boseog | |||
| Daesa | |||
| Mongsang | |||
| Jeonsa | |||
| Juin | |||
| Jebon | |||
| Sangin | |||
| Maechunbu | |||
| Tazriz | Extinct | ||
| Janinhan | |||
| Milgohada | |||
| Ttabunhan | |||
| Gimyohan | |||
| Jeojanghada | |||
| Jesamja | |||
| Pyegwang | |||
| Bulgilhan | |||
| Chwihan | |||
| Saengjwi | |||
| Pamunhada | |||
| Gyeongsaseuleoun | |||
| Jeongbu | |||
| Insam | |||
| Eunchong | |||
| Chiteo | |||
| Sangkwaehan | |||
| Honlan | |||
| Mozae | |||
| Jeomchida |
Esteemed guests
Citizenship is rarely granted to foreigners in Metzetta, with even residency permits difficult to come by. However in exceptional circumstances the Emperor may choose to not only grant citizenship to immigrants but choose to formally recognise their descendants as a fully-fledged clan of Metzetta. This is considered a tremendous honour and the Emperor will also commission a family shrine to be built for them. Currently XX clans originating in such a fashion are still in active use.
| Name | Homeland | Status | Shrine location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daxia | ||||
Clans of the Empire
Clans not belonging to any noble class but still of Metzettan origin make up the bulk of the country's families; they are usually not said to belong to any category but are sometimes formally titled Clans of the Empire. All clans still publish their books regularly and maintain their shrines. Metzettans who marry foreigners may take on their names and have children with them, but their new family name does not represent a new clan; they will be considered outsiders on foreign origin until the family remarries back into a Metzettan family name, except in the unusual circumstance the Emperor recognises the new family as an esteemed guest.
| Dong | Unmyeong | Seonghyeon | Gangnam | Morogen | Darsan | Zinseng | Kim | Gwangmok | Dangson |
| Bogsun | Gosohada | Hangosu | Batsu | Minyon | Amsalja | Gohwan | Gom | Tamjeong | Maldo |
| Myohan | Geonchugga | Jadu | Heulin | Chuyin | Eobu | Gwalm | Nossoe | Danhohan | Hyansae |
| Du | Sung | Gohan | Gyul | Huchu | Chingusi | Rin | Gaeguli | Tongri | Chingu |
| Zye | Hwang | Pochi | Goryeo | Jagi | Undong | Kkoch | Desi | Jeontugi | Park |
| Guji | Mizo | Suki | Jeontori | Uyu | Nihon | Bae | Kang |
Orphan Clans
The original set of 4 Orphan Clans (Peturin, Aburisu, Balli and Gwiyeoun) were used to name abandoned babies of unknown parentage, unidentified corpses, example persons used for demonstration purposes on official documents and other such duties. Empress Seunsi decreed in 1967 that former one-Empress Imperial houses (Pang, Mali, Zwe-Hu, Hizo, Keuto and Eluwi) could have their names revived to serve this purpose and bring more dignity to those unfortunate children who were abandoned at orphanages. Seunsi herself had no children and in 2002 Emperor Rindo allowed her name to be used in the same manner. The 4 original clans all share a family shrine known as the Orphan Shrine located in Hitui.
Ghost Clans
Clans which fail to produce enough male heirs will die out. In Metzetta these extinct family names are known as Ghost Clans. Their shrines are still maintained by locals but no new members will be produced. On occasion a new Ghost Clan will be discovered through archaeology but many are considered lost to time.
| Mon | Chusuburi | Penza | |||||||