Surname Overview
A Rare Surname
Shen is an extremely rare Chinese surname and is also a surname among an ethnic minority of the Bai people in Yunnan.
神 Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 246Origins
Origin Traditions
One account holds that descendants of Yan Emperor Shennong withdrew after intertribal wars and adopted Shen as their surname, continuing Shennong's lineage.
Historical Records
Early Attestation
The earliest recorded notable person with the Shen surname was Shen Yao, a Cavalry Commandant of the Han dynasty.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Halls
No information on commanderies or ancestral halls of the Shen surname is provided here.
Migration and Distribution
Present Distribution
Today, Shandong has a relatively large concentration of people with the Shen surname and includes a Shen-surname village; a Taiwan survey found only three people carrying the surname there.
Notable People
Shen Ying and Shen Zhou in the Ming
In the Ming dynasty, Shen Ying entered government service with literary and military talent and won the emperor's favor; later, Shen Zhou's failed rebellion brought the Shen family into decline.
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Surname attestation references
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