The Astor House Hotel in Tianjin (Tientsin) has no direct connection to the Astor family of the United States, despite the name similarity.

Here's some clarification:

• The Astor family, notably John Jacob Astor, was a wealthy American dynasty known for real estate and fur trading in the 19th century. They were heavily involved in U.S. social and economic life, especially in New York.

• The Astor House Hotel in Tianjin was named in the style of prestigious Western hotels, likely inspired by the Astor House Hotel in Shanghai, which was named after the famous Astor House Hotel in New York. That New York hotel was indeed linked to the Astor family.

Chain of Naming Influence:

1. Astor House Hotel, New York (established 1836) – named after John Jacob Astor.

2. Astor House Hotel, Shanghai (originally Richards' Hotel and Restaurant, renamed in 1861) – likely named to evoke the prestige of the New York original.

3. Astor House Hotel, Tianjin (founded 1863) – possibly drew from the naming precedent of the Shanghai hotel to signal luxury and Western sophistication.

So, the Tianjin hotel’s name is more of a branding move, reflecting Western elegance and prestige, not a sign of ownership or involvement by the Astor family themselves.

The Astor House Hotel in Shanghai also has no direct ownership or business connection to the American Astor family—but its name was very likely inspired by them to evoke prestige and appeal to Western clientele.

Key Points:

• Originally founded in 1846 as Richards' Hotel and Restaurant by British merchant Peter Felix Richards.

• Renamed the Astor House Hotel in 1861, after the famous Astor House Hotel in New York, which was a luxurious hotel built by or associated with John Jacob Astor.

• The New York Astor House Hotel (opened 1836) was a symbol of wealth and modernity in the U.S., and its name carried global prestige.

• The Shanghai hotel borrowed the name to attract elite Western guests in the international settlement area, suggesting luxury, familiarity, and Western standards—common practice in colonial-era China.

Conclusion:

• No Astor family members owned, operated, or were financially involved with the Astor House Hotel in Shanghai.

• The name was a branding strategy to associate the hotel with Western luxury, drawing from the Astor name’s reputation in the U.S. and Europe.