Surname Overview
Overview
The Yin surname is pronounced Yīn and ranks 283rd in the Hundred Family Surnames.
Yīn Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 81,756Yīn / Yin
Origins
The Yin surname is associated with Ji ancestry, the state of Yin, and sinicized surname changes among other ethnic groups. Another account connects it with the descendants of Guan Shu Xian and Guan Zhong becoming the Yin official after moving to Chu.
Historical Records
Documentary Records
The Yuanhe Xing Zuan records the Yin surname as descending from Guan Shu Xian, the third son of King Wen of Zhou; the Fengsu Tong records another possibility: descent from the Kang surname.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Halls
Traditional commanderies associated with the Yin surname include Nanyang and Shiping; its halls include Nanyang Hall, Shiping Hall, and also Eryou Hall.
Migration and Distribution
The Yin surname is outside the top one hundred in mainland China and Taiwan. Its main traditional commanderies are Nanyang and Wuwei, with distribution in Henan, Hebei, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Gansu; it is relatively uncommon in Jiaodong, where Yin Family Village is located in Shahe Town, Laizhou.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Yin Shou was a Duke of Zhao in the Sui dynasty; Yin Keng was a literary figure of the Southern Chen; and Yin Bingheng was a Ming scholar known as “Yin Mencius” for living in retirement and producing many writings.
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