It is listed 316th in the Song dynasty classic text Hundred Family Surnames.

[2] As of 2008, Ji 冀 is the 294th most common surname in China, shared by 160,000 people, or 0.013% of the Chinese population.

According to the Song dynasty text Lushi, King Wu of Zhou (reigned 1046–1043 BC) enfeoffed a descendant of Emperor Yao at the state of Ji 冀, located in present-day Jishan or Anze County, Shanxi province.

During the Spring and Autumn period, Ji was conquered by the neighbouring state of Jin, a major power of the time.

A third origin of the Ji surname is the state of Song of the Zhou dynasty.