Fan

A county of Puyang, Henan, China.

Proper noun

A county of Puyang, Henan, China.
- In a report boasting of the rich supply of commodities in Fan County of Honan Province , the Peiping Ta Kung Pao of 1 December 1965 pointed out: “ Within 10 days before the autumn festival of this year, the commercial...
- In a commune in Fanxian county, Henan province, a low-incidence area, two cases of pharyngoesophageal cancer were detected among 11,399 chickens over 6 months of age, showing an incidence rate of 17.55 per 100,000. -...
- In 341 B. C., King Wei of Qi chose Tian Ji and Tian Ying as general, Sun Bin as military counselor to lead the troops in fighting against Wei to rescue Han. Again, they gave Wei a severe blow at Maling (to the southwest...
A surname from Mandarin.

From Mandarin 范 (Fàn).

A diminutive of Frances.
- I see now what brings you about our house so much. You want to get hold of Fan and her business and little savings for yourself, do you? - 1870, Thomas Wright, The bane of a life, volume 2, page 109:
- Listen, Fan. That cowardly, sickly little boy you fought for in the street, that day in Winnebago, showed every sign of growing up a cowardly, sickly man. - 1917, Edna Ferber, Fanny Herself, page 173:

Shortening of Fanny, itself a short form of Frances.