Mei came from the Zhi family. They were awarded a kingdom in the South East of Hao County in Anhui. The Duke of Mei was known as Mei Bo. During Emperor Zhous reign in the Shang Dynasty, Duke Mei Bo pleaded repeatedly to Zhou to repent from his cruelty. This angered Emperor Zhou whom beheaded Mei Bo. Mei Bos descendents began to assume the last name Mei to commemorate this righteous Duke.
