Surname Overview
Surname Pronunciation
As a surname, 剡 is pronounced yǎn, rather than shàn, the pronunciation used for the place names 剡溪 and 剡县.
剡 Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 52Origins
Origins and Lineage
The 剡 surname derives from the ancient Ying surname and took its name from a feudal state; it is described as belonging to the same lineage as Qin Shihuang, Ying Zheng.
Migration and Distribution
Current Distribution
The 剡 surname is now rare, with its population highly concentrated in southeastern Gansu, including Tianshui and Longnan.
Research Notes
Distinct from the Place-Name Character
The surname 剡 (yǎn) and the ancient Zhejiang place name 剡 (shàn) share the same written form, but differ in pronunciation and origin and have no direct connection.
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